^
Biographical History
OF
DARKE COUNTY
OHIO
Compendium of National Biography
ILLUSTRATED
CHICAGO
The Lewis Publishing Company
1900
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Biography is the only true History.— Emerson.
A people that take no pride in the noble achievements of remote ancestors
will never achieve anything worthy to be remembered with
pride by remote generations. — Mac a ulay.
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GENERAL INDEX.
Table of Contents, 3
Introductory, 11
Compendium of National Biography, - 13
Compendium of Local Biography, - 223
INDEX TO FART I,
Compendium of National Biography.
Biographical Sketches of National Celebrities.
PAGE
Abbott, Lyman 144
Adams, Charles Kendall 143
Adams, John. 25
Adams, John Quincy 61
Agassiz, Louis J. R 137
Alger, Russell A 173
Allison, William B..., 131
Allston, Washington..'. 190
Altgeld, John Peter 140
Andrews, Elisha B 184
Anthony, Susan B 62
Armour, Philip D 62
Arnold, Benedict 84
Arthur, Chester Allen 168
Astor, John Jacob 139
Audubon, John James 166
Bailey, James Montgomery. . . 177
Bancroft, George 74
Barnard, Frederick A. P 179
Barnum, Phineas T 41
Barrett, Lawrence 156
Barton, Clara 209
Bayard, Thomas Francis 200
Beard, William H 196
Beauregard, Pierre G. T 203
Beecher, Henry Ward 26
Bell, Alexander Graham 96
Bennett, James Gordon 206
Benton, Thomas Hart 53
Bergh, Henry 160
Bierstadt, Albert 197
Billings, Josh 166
Blaine, James Gillespie 22
Bland, Richard Parks 106
PAGE
Boone, Daniel 36
Booth, Edwin 51
Booth, Junius Brutus 177
Brice, Calvin S 181
Brooks, Phillips 130
Brown, John 51
Brown, Charles Farrar 91
Brush, Charles Francis 153
Bryan, William Jennings 158
Bryant, William Cullen 44
Buchanan, Franklin 105
Buchanan, James 128
Buckner, Simon Bolivar 188
Burdette, Robert J 103
Burr, Aaron Ill
Butler, Benjamin Franklin.. . . 24
Calhoun, John Caldwell 23
Cameron, James Donald 141
Cameron, Simon 141
Cammack, Addison 197
Campbell, Alexander 180
Carlisle, John G 133
Carnegie, Andrew 73
Carpenter, Matthew Hale 178
Carson, Christopher (Kit) 86
Cass, Lewis 110
Chase, Salmon Portland 65
Childs, George W 83
Choate, Rufus 207
Claflin, Horace Brigham 107
Clay, Henry 21
Clemens, Samuel Langhorne.. 86
Cleveland, Grover 174
Clews,* Henry 153
PAGE
Clinton, DeWitt 110
Colfax, Schuyler 139
Conkling, Alfred 32
Conkhng, Roscoe 32
Cooley, Thomas Mclntyre. . . . 140
Cooper, James Fenimore 58
Cooper, Peter 37
Copely, John Singleton 191
Corbin, Austin 205
Corcoran, W.W 196
Cornell, Ezra 161
Cramp, William 189
Crockett, David 76
Cullom, Shelby Moore 116
Curtis, George William 144
Cushman, Charlotte 107
Custer, George A 95
Dana, Charles A 88
" Danbury News Man " 177
Davenport, Fanny 106
Davis, Jefferson 24
Debs, Eugene V 132
Decatur, Stephen 101
Deering, William 198
Depew, Chauncey Mitchell.... 209
Dickinson, Anna 103
Dickinson, Don M 139
Dingley, Nelson, Jr 215
Donnelly, Ignatius 161
Douglas, Stephen Arnold 53
Douglass, Frederick 43
Dow, Neal 108
Draper, John William 184
TABLE OF CONTENTS—PART I.
PAGE
Drexel, Anthony Joseph 124
Dupont, Henry 198
Edison, Thomas Alva 55
Edmunds, George F 201
Ellsworth, Oliver 168
Emerson, Ralph Waldo 57
Ericsson, John 127
Evarts, William Maxwell 89
Farragut, David Glascoe 80
Field, Cyrus West 173
Field, David Dudley 126
Field, Marshall 59
Field, Stephen Johnson 216
Fillmore, Millard 113
Foote, Andrew Hull 176
Foraker, Joseph B 143
Forrest, Edwin 92
Franklin, Benjamin 18
Fremont, John Charles 29
Fuller, Melville Weston 168
Fulton, Robert 62
Gage, Lyman J 71
Gallatin, Albert 112
Garfield, James A 163
Garrett, John Work 200
Garrison, William Lloyd 50
Gates, Horatio 70
Gatling, Richard Jordan 116
( Jeorge, Henry _ 203
Gibbons, Cardinal James 209
Gilmore, Patrick Sarsfield 77
Girard, Stephen 137
Gough, John B 131
Goutd, Jay 52
Gordon, John B 215
Grant, Ulysses S 155
Gray, Asa 88
Gray, Elisha 149
Greeley, Adolphus W 142
Greeley, Horace 20
Greene, Nathaniel 69
Gresham, Walter Quintin 183
Hale, Edward Everett 79
Hall, Charles Francis 167
Hamilton, Alexander 31
Hamlin, Hannibal 214
Hampton, Wade 192
Hancock, Winfield Scott 146
Hanna, Marcus Alonzo 169
Harris, Isham G 214
Harrison, William Henry 87
Harrison, Benjamin 182
Harvard, John 129
Havemeyer, John Craig 182
Hawthorne, Nathaniel 135
Hayes, Rutherford Birchard. . . 157
Hendricks, Thomas Andrew. . 212
Henry, Joseph 105
Henrv, Patrick 83
Hill, David Bennett 90
Hobart, Garrett A 213
Holmes, Oliver Wendell 206
Hooker, Joseph 52
Howe, Elias 130
Howells, William Dean 104
PAGE
Houston, Sam 120
Hughes, Archbishop John 157
Hughitt, Marvin 159
Hull, Isaac 169
Huntington, Collis Potter 94
Ingalls, John James 114
Ingersoll, Robert G 85
Irving, Washington 33
Jackson, Andrew 71
Jackson, " Stonewall " 67
Jackson, Thomas Jonathan 67
Jay, John 39
Jefferson, Joseph 47
Jefferson, Thomas 34
Johnson, Andrew 145
Johnson, Eastman 202
Johnston, Joseph Eccleston... . 85
Jones, James K 171
Jones, John Paul 97
Jones, Samuel Porter 115
Kane, Elisha Kent 125
Kearney, Philip 210
Kenton, Simon 188
Knox, John Jay 134
Lamar, Lucius Q. C 201
Landon, Melville D 109
Lee, Robert Edward 38
Lewis, Charles B 193
Lincoln, Abraham 135
Livermore, Mary Ashton 131
Locke, David Ross 172
Logan, John A 26
Longfellow, Henry Wadsworth 37
Longstreet, James 56
Lowell, James Russell 104
Mackay, John William 148
Madison, lames 42
Marshall, John 156
Mather, Cotton 164
Mather, Increase 163
Maxim, Hiram S 194
McClellan, George Brinton.. . . 47
McCormick, Cyrus Hall 172
McDonough, Com. Thomas.. . 167
McKinley, William 217
Meade, George Gordon 75
Medill, Joseph 159
Miles, Nelson A 176
Miller, Cincinnatus Heine 218
Miller, Joaquin 218
Mills, Roger Quarles 211
Monroe, James 54
Moody, Dwight L 207
Moran, Thomas 98
Morgan, John Pierpont 208
Morgan, John T 216
Morris, Robert 165
Morse, Samuel F. B 124
Morton, Levi P 142
Morton, Oliver Perry 215
Motley, John Lathro'p 130
"Nye, Bill" 59
Nye, Edgar Wilson 59
PAGE
O'Conor, Charles 187
Olney, Richard 133
Paine, Thomas 147
Palmer, John M 195
Parkhurst, Charles Henry 160
"Partington, Mrs." 202
Peabody, George 170
Peck, George W 187
Peffer, William A 164
Perkins, Eli 109
Perry, Oliver Hazard 97
Phillips, Wendell.. 30
Pierce, Franklin 122
Pingree, Hazen S 212
Plant, Henry B 192
Poe, Edgar Allen 69
Polk, James Knox 102
Porter, David Dixon 68
Porter, Noah 93
Prentice, George Denison.. . . 119
Prescott, William Hickling.... 96
Pullman, George Mortimer. . .. 121
Quad, M 193
Quay MatthewS 171
Randolph, Edmund 136
Read, Thomas Buchanan 132
Reed, Thomas Brackett 208
Reid, Whitelaw 149
Roach, John 190
Rockefeller, John Davison.... 195
Root, George Frederick 218
Rothermel, Peter F 113
Rutledge, John 57
Sage, Russell 211
Schofield, John McAllister 199
Schurz, Carl 201
Scott, Thomas Alexander 204
Scott, Winfield 79
Seward, William Henry 44
Sharon, William 165
Shaw, Henry W 166
Sheridan, Phillip Henry 40
Sherman, Charles R 87
Sherman, John 86
Shillaber, Benjamin Penhallow 202
Sherman, William Tecumseh.. 30
Smith, Edmund Kirby 114
Sousa, John Philip 60
Spreckels, Claus 159
Stanford, Leland 101
Stanton, Edwin McMasters... 179
Stanton, Elizabeth Cady 126
Stephens, Alexander Hamilton 32
Stephenson, Adlai Ewing. .. . 141
Stewart, Alexander T 58
Stewart, William Morris 213
Stowe, Harriet Elizabeth
Beecher 66
Stuart, James E. B 122
Sumner, Charles 34
Talmage, Thomas DeWitt. ... 60
Taney, Roger Brooke 129
Taylor, Zachary 108
Teller, Henrv M 127
TABLE OF CONTENTS— PART I.
PAGE
Tesla, Nikola 193
Thomas, George H 73
Thomas, Theodore 1 72
Thurman, Allen G 90
Thurston, John M 166
Tilden, Samuel J 48
Tillman, Benjamin Ryan 119
Toombs, Robert 205
" Twain, Mark " 86
Tyler, John 93
Van Buren, Martin 78
Yanderbilt, Cornelius 35
Vail, Alfred 154
Vest, George Graham 214
PAGE
Vilas, William Freeman 140
Voorhees, Daniel Wolsey 95
Waite, Morrison Remich 125
Wallace, Lewis 199
Wallack, Lester 121
Wallack, John Lester. 121
Wanamaker, John 89
Ward, "Artemus " 91
Washburne, Elihu Benjamin. . 189
Washington, George 17
Watson, Thomas E 178
Watterson, Henry 76
Weaver, James B 123
Webster, Daniel 19
PAGE
Webster, Noah 49
Weed, Thurlow 91
West, Benjamin 115
Whipple, Henry Benjamin. . . . 161
White, Stephen V 162
Whitefield, George 150
Whitman, Walt 197
Whitney, Eli 120
Whitney, William Collins 92
Whittier, John Greenleaf 67
Willard, Frances E 133
Wilson, William L 180
Winchell, Alexander 175
Wmdom, William 138
PORTRAITS OF NATIONAL CELEBRITIES.
PAGE
Alsrer, Russell A 16
Allison, William B 99
Anthony, Susan B 63
Armour, Philip D 151
Arthur, Chester A 81
Barnum, Phineas T 117
Beecher, Henry Ward 27
Blaine, James G 151
Booth, Edwin 63
Bryan, Wm. J 63
Bryant, William Cullen 185
Buchanan, James 81
Buckner, Simon B 16
Butler Benjamin F 151
Carlisle, John G 151
Chase, Salmon P 16
Childs, George W 99
Clay, Henry 81
Cleveland, Grover 45
Cooper, Peter 99
Dana, Charles A 151
Depew.Chauncey M 117
Douglass, Fred 63
Emerson, Ralph Waldo 27
Evarts, William M 99
Farragut, Com. D. G 185
Field, Cyrus W 63
PAGE
Field, Marshall... 117
Franklin, Benjamin 63
Fremont, Gen. John C 16
Gage, Lyman J 151
Garfield, James A 45
Garrison, William Lloyd 63
George, Henry 117
Gould, Jay 99
Grant, Gen. U. S 185
Greeley, Horace 81
Hampton, Wade 16
Hancock, Gen. Winfield S 185
Hanna, Mark A 117
Harrison, Benjamin 81
Hayes, R. B 45
Hendricks, Thomas A 81
Holmes, Oliver W 151
Hooker, Gen. Joseph 16
Ingersoll, Robert G 117
Irving, Washington 27
Jackson, Andrew 45
Jefferson, Thomas 45
Johnston, Gen. J. E 16
Lee, Gen. Robert E 185
Lincoln, Abraham 81
Logan, Gen. lohn A 16
Longfellow, Henry W 185
PAGE
Longstreet, Gen. James 16
Lowell, James Russell 27
McKinley, William 45
Morse, S. F. B 185
Phillips, Wendell 27
Porter, Com. D. D 185
Pullman, George M 117
Quay, M. S 99
Reed, Thomas B 151
Sage, Russell 117
Scott, Gen. Winfield 185
Seward, William H 45
Sherman, John 99
Sherman, Gen. W. T 151
Stanton, Elizabeth Cady 27
Stowe, Harriet Beecher 27
Sumner, Charles 45
Talmage, T. De Witt 63
Teller, Henry M 99
Thurman, Allen G 81
Tilden, Samuel J 117
Van Buren, Martin 81
Vanderbilt, Commodore 99
Webster, Daniel 27
Whittier, John G 2^
Washington, George 45
Watterson, Henry 63
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COMPENDIUM
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LOCAL BIOGRAPHY
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FART II.
Biographical Compendium of Darke County.
PAGE
Adams, George 225
Albright, Daniel T 243
Albright, Johnson K 4^1
Albright, Peter 454
Albright, Philip 242
Alexandre, Joseph 434
Allen, Benjamin M (554
Allen, James 243
Allen, William 245
Allen, William 653
Allread, James I 382
Allread, S. William 730
Alter, Henry 355
Anderson, CM 28fi
Anderson, Lewis C 702
Armacost, Christopher M 620
Armstrong, Hugh 501
Armstrong, Hugh L 469
Armstrong, Peter. 464
Arnold, George 669
Arnold, Henry 230
Arnold, Isaac N 244
Arnold, John C 414
Arnold, Mrs. S. J 230
Avery, James B 645
Bailev, John L 262
Bailey, Martin V 243
Bailey, Mrs. Samuel 554
Baker, Charles 731
Baker, Thomas 280
Beachler, Henry 583
Beam, R. K 273
Beem, Ralph U 736
Beers, Charles 320
Beers, David . nd Theodore.. . 245
Bell, Hiram 245
Benson, James M 700
Bickel, Henry M 684
Bickel, loseph M 473
Biddle, John 484
Bigler, Cyrus 261
Bireley, Harvey H 659
Bireley, William J 238
Bish, Henry J 594
Bishop, T. L 614
Bolles, Charles H 595
Booker, Isaac N 649
Bowers, Wilson S 313
Bowman, David P 245
Bowman, David W 637
Bowman, Jonathan 244
PAGE
Boyd, Samuel 229
Brandon, Riley M 534
Breaden, John E., Sr 462
Breaden, John E., Jr 245, 467
Bristly, Henry C 695
Brown, Marshall A 348
Brown, Noah W 662
Brown, Reuben 305
Browne, William A 668
Bryson, Morris 619
Bryson, Joseph 328
Butcher; loseph J 697
Burns, Daniel 292
Byrd, Abraham 416
Bvrd, George S 642
Byrd.Japheth 538
Calderwood, Andrew R..237, 243-5
Calderwood, Elmer E 490
Calderwood, George 237
Calkins, Charles 245
Carnahan, John 229
Caupp, Daniel 459
Chenoweth, Charles W 629
Christopher, David 578
Clark, Arthur L 728
Clark, Hiram 567
Clark, John C '350
Clawson, Henry A 555
Clear, David A 300
Coblentz, Harrison 291
Cole, Henry M 318
Cole, Joseph 331
Compton, John A 243
Conover, Ezekiel S. 736
Coppess, Adam S 712
Coppess, Frederick 513
Coppess, Harmon C 407
Coppess. John S 517
Corwin, Joseph W 401
Cox, William 243
Cranor, Jonathan 242
Creviston, James B 248
Culbertson, Edmund ....... 478
Darke Co. Children's Home. . 362
Davison, Oscar F 357
Dean, Aaron 232
Deardoff, Isaac F 549
Denise Family, The 6<'8
Detling, Mary E 365
Devor, Elijah 232
PAGE
Devor, James 232
Devor, John 229, 232
Devor, William 227
Downing, Andrew J 312
Drill, Daniel L 388
Dunkle, Charles E.... '.52
Dunn, A. L 689
Eidson, Francis M 276
Eikenberry, A. L 548
Emerson, William H 2> 6
Emrick, George 288
Erisman, Christian 251
Erisman, Henry 621
Eury, Sarah 744
Ewry, William 283
Farra, Eleanor 608
Fischbach, John G 257
Fisher, Eli A 424
Folkerth, William 231
Ford, Philip M 719
Ford, Royston 673
Foureman, David C 590
Fowler, Hanson T 406
Frampton, Adam C 506
Frank, John G 303
Frankmann, Adam 616
Fritz, John H 749
Frizell, J. W 242
Frost, James 453
Fry, Allen 661
Fry, Phebe 723
Garber, Harvey C 369
George, William E 746
Gibson, Samuel 700
Glander, Edward 436
Gordon, Frank S 432
Grillot, Benjamin L 717
Graff, Christian D 592
Grusenmeyer, Valentine 633
Guntrum, William E 591
Halderman, Jacob 302
Harlev, George W 360
Harper, William M 640
Hart, Solomon D 704
Harter, Albert 298
Harter, David F 405
Harter, Elias 244
Hartle, David 634
TABLE OF CONTENTS— PART II.
PAGE
Hartle, Franklin P. 447
Hartman, Samuel V 584
Hartzell, Daniel 1 529
Hartzell, Jonas W 437
Hartzell, Philip 631
Heeter, John F 397
Henne, Daniel 676
Hercules, Jacob L 322
Hershey, Emanuel 753
Hershey, John T 315
Hickox, Fli 243
Hill, George \V 513
Hill. Harvey 409
Hill, John R 505
Himes, John T 611
Hindsley, William W 675
Hoi linger, Jacob 725
Hoschouer, John 606
Housholder, L. R 417
Huddle, Levi 670
Hufnagle, John 630
Huhn, Morris 623
Hyde, A. H 244
Hyer, Jesse R 588
Irelan, Aaron A 320
Irwin, William J 576
Jacobi, Henry C 445
Jamison, Robert B 582
Jefferis, William E. G 617
Jobes, Allen L 243
Jobes, U. H. R 239 245
Jones, Alonzo L 698
Judy, Alfred H 252
Judy, Swan 246
Karn, Henry 482
Katzenberger, Charles L . . . . 457
Katzenherger, Frances 1 562
Katzenberger, Franziskus M. . 559
Katzenberger, George A 527
Kemble, Samuel R 326
Keener, Harrison A 510
Kerlin, John D 463
Kerlin, Oscar C 589
Kerlin, William K 460
Kester, Philip 290
Kiester, William H 720
Kipp, Conrad 729
Knoderer, Christian 479
Knorr, Anthony T 665
Knox, John R 246, 375
Knox, R. A ' 243
Kruckeberg, Herman F 385
Lansdowne, James M 475
Larimer, John W 507
Layer, W. A 596
Lephart, Henry 258
Litten, Cyrus 718
Livingston, William A 279
Long, Barton W 299
Longenecker, Frank 569
Longenecker, Harvey 525
Lot, L. B 245
Loy, Michael 408
Ludy, Samuel 854
Ludy, William 352
Maher, Thomas C
Mansfield, Lewis
Marker, George E
Marker, Isaac
Marker, Leonard
Martin, 1). W. K
Martin, Jacob B
Martin, Luther
Martin, Mrs. Robert
Martz, George J
Martz, Jacob T
Matchett, C. G 243,
Matchett, William H 243,
Mayer, Charles H
McAlpin, Alexander
McCabe, lames
McClure, George H
McCool, James V
McDonald, Joseph
McDonald, Mark
McEowen, Henry H
McGriff, Jesse A
McGnff, Price
McGriff, William P
McKay, John W
McKibben. Hugh T
McNutt, John
Medford. Uriah
Meeker, David L 245,
Meeker, J. T
Meier, Charles
Meier, Frederick
Menke, Bernhard
iesse, Gabriel
iller, Amos P
iller, Daniel
iller, John F
iller, Lewis C
iller, Thomas B. . . .
iller, Thomas C . . . .
ills, Catharine
ills, Harrod
ills, James
innich, Samuel B.. .
Mohler, John
Monger, Thomas H .
Morningstar, John H.
Mote, Casville
Mote, Irvin
Mote, Joseph
Mote, William C
PAGE
.. 435
.. 532
. . 573
.. 752
.. 622
.. 533
. . 884
. 727
.. 229
.. 568
.. 246
245
499
346
244
255
7o5
:;;,s
245
678
399
681
324
285
326
624
724
Toe.
626
246
7i is
707
581
240
267
557
430
353
751
605
564
244
545
281
757
361
657
450
679
571
477
Netzley, Allen 427
Net ley, Eli 427
Netzley, Jesse. 431
Newbauer, George D 438
Newkirk, J. M
Niswonger, George E.
Noggle, George M
Northrop, C. B
Nysvvanger, Alex....
242
710
663
244
404
Ortlepp, E 493
Otwell, E. W 524
Parent, John 307
Paul in, Samuel 310
Pearson, William 244
PAGE
Peters, Abdel 638
Peters. John J 393
Phillips, Monroe 709
Pierson, Jacob S 243
Pleasant, William C 665
Plowman, Mary J 864
Poe, Andrew 441
Putnam, David 542
Putnam, Edwin B 244
Kahn, George W 603
Rarick, Charles YV 308
Reed, Finley R 540
Reichard, William 389
Reichard, William J 694
Replogle, Francis iM 730
Replogle, Jacob 726
Reppeto, William H 282
Requarth, William 294
Rhoades, Abraham 602
Richardson, Ephraim C 452
Ries, John H 382
Ries, Wilham L 379
Riesley, Gotleap 449
Rike, William H 485
Roberts, D. Q 748
Robertson, William L 341
Koheson, Thomas J 440
Robeson, William 446
K ogers, Charles C 755
Rogers, Elmer C 756
Roland, Charles 691
Roland, Charles W 613
Royer, Henry J 343
Ruh, Geortie 721
Runkle, William 523
Rush, Andrew 228
Rush, Andrew W 363
Ryan, Daniel H 323
Ryan, Frank L 317
Sater, J. W 245
Schaefer, Christian 415
Schlechty, George 579
Scribner, Abraham and Azor. . 228
Scribner, Rachel (Devor) 229
Searl, Russell 370
Seitz, Anna E 744
Seitz, Enoch B 740
Shafer, Job M 520
Shelley, Thomas J 389
Shepherd, Stephen 658
Sherry, Elizabeth 269
Sherry, William H 597
Shields, Abraham 429
Shields, George £98
Shields, William 337
Shives, Thomas A 600
Shivly, Jacob W 243
Shuff, Easam 426
Sigafoos, George W 470
Sigerfoos, George W 738
Small, lohn H 492
Smith, J. W 243
Snodgrass, B. F 243
Snodgrass, Clement 243
Snyder, Daniel 344
Snyder, Elias D 311
TABLE OF CONTENTS— PART II.
PAGE
Snyder, James A 503
Spencer, John F 297
Stahl, Anna W 552
Stentzel, John J...... 367
Stephens, John 314
Stevenson, Walter 244
Stiles, Thomas D 235
Stocker, Jacob R 446
Stover, Daniel W 716
Straker, Henry 455
Stubbs, William V 751
Studahaker, Abraham 230
Studabaker, Uavid 231
Suter, John R 693
Swinger, David 423
Swinger, John 732
Taylor, Delia V 413
Teaford, Jonathan 578
Teaford, Norman 5S2
Teegarden, Moses 554
Teegarden, Moses S 380
Teegarden, William W 585
Thomas, Samuel S 488
Thompson, Jeremiah 690
PAGE
Thompson, William S 667
Tomlinson, H. A 243
Townsend, Alfred 244
Townsend, William 714
Turner, Jacob K 641
Turner, Larkin G 301
Ullery, Leonard 243
Vail, Aaron 715
Van Mater, Cyrenius 243
Vannoy, David J 489
Walker, John 419
Wallace, John A 709
Walters, Lewis P 334
Ware, Jacob F 480
Warner, Henry 336
Warvel, Daniel 682
Warvel, Nathan S 266
Weaver, David 568
Weaver, Elihu 610
Weaver, George 687
Welbourn, George J 442
PAGE
Weston, W. A 233
Wharry, John 238
Whitacre, Frank M 411
White, Elam 754
Wiley, Francis G 487
Williams, Henry 713
Wilson Children, The 227
Wilson, Mrs. Samuel 270
Wilson, W.J 391
Wilson, W. M 234
Winbigler, George H 646
Winbigler, John J 486
Winger, John 688
Winner, John L 233
Winters, Job M 650
Wise, Franklin 536
Woods, Addison J 547
Woods, Jesse 474
Workman, T. H 243
Young, Calvin M 494
Young, Jacob B 470
Yount, Henry L 584
Zeller, Cyrus 654
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COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY
OF
Celebrated Americans
ww^w
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G
|EORGE WASHINGTON,
% the first president of the Unit-
|l ed States, called the "Father
of his Country," was one of
the most celebrated characters
in history. He was born Feb-
ruary 22, 1732, in Washing-
ton Parish, Westmoreland county, Virginia.
His father, Augustine Washington, first
married Jane Butler, who bore him four
children, and March (5, 1730, he -married
Mary Ball. Of six children by his second
marriage, George was the eldest.
Little is known of the early years of
Washington, beyond the fact that the house
in which he was born was burned during his
early childhood, and that his father there-
upon moved to another farm, inherited from
his paternal ancestors, situated in Stafford
county, on the north bank of the Rappahan-
nock, and died there in 1743. From earliest
childhood George developed a noble charac-
ter. His education was somewhat defective,
being confined to the elementary branches
taught him by his mother and at a neighbor-
ing school. On leaving school he resided
some time at Mount Vernon with his half
brother, Lawrence, who acted as his guar.
dian. George's inclinations were for a sea-
faring career, and a midshipman's warrant
was procured for him; but through the oppo-
sition of his mother the project was aban-
doned, and at the age of sixteen he was
appointed surveyor to the immense estates
of the eccentric Lord Fairfax. Three years
were passed by Washington in a rough fron-
tier life, gaining experience which afterwards
proved very essential to him. In 175 1,
when the Virginia militia were put under
training with a view to active service against
France, Washington, though only nineteen
years of age, was appointed adjutant, with
the rank of major. In 1752 Lawrence
Washington died, leaving his large property
to an infant daughter. In his will George
was named one of the executors and as an
eventual heir to Mount Vernon, and by the
death of the infant niece, soon succeeded to
that estate. In 1753 George was commis-
sioned adjutant-general of the Virginia
militia, and performed important work at
the outbreak of the French and Indian
war, was rapidly promoted, and at the close of
that war we find him commander-in-chief of
Oopjrisht 1S97, bj Geo. A. Ogle U Co.
18
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY.
all the forces raised in Virginia. A cessation
of Indian hostilities on the frontier having
followed the expulsion of the French from
the Ohio, he resigned his commission as
commander-in-chief of the Virginia forces,
and then proceeded to Williamsburg to take
his seat in the Virginia Assembly, of which
he had been elected a member.
January 17, 1759, Washington married
Mrs. Martha (Dandridge) Curtis, a young
and beautiful widow of great wealth, and
devoted himself for the ensuing fifteen years
to the quiet pursuits of agriculture, inter-
rupted only by the annual attendance in
winter upon the colonial legislature at
Williamsburg, until summoned by his coun-
try to enter upon that other arena in which
his fame was to become world-wide. The
war for independence called Washington
into service again, and he was made com-
mander-in-chief of the colonial forces, and
was the most gallant and conspicuous figure
in that bloody struggle, serving until Eng-
land acknowledged the independence of
each of the thirteen States, and negotiated
with them jointly, as separate sovereignties.
December 4, 1783, the great commander
took leave of his officers in most affection-
ate and patriotic terms, and went to An-
napolis, Maryland, where the congress of
the States was in session, and to that body,
when peace and order prevailed everywhere,
resigned his commission and retired to
Mount Vernon.
It was in 1789 that Washington was
called to the chief magistracy of the na-
tion. The inauguration took place April
30, in the presence of an immense multi-
tude which had assembled to witness the new
and imposing ceremony. In the manifold de-
tails of his civil administration Washington
proved himselffullyequal to the requirements
of his position. In 1792, at the second presi-
dential election, Washington was desirous
to retire; but he yielded to the general wish
of the country, and was again chosen presi-
dent. At the third election, in 1796, he
was again most urgently entreated to con-
sent to remain in the executive chair. This
he positively refused, and after March 4,
1797, he again retired to Mount Vernon
for peace, quiet, and repose.
Of the call again made on this illustrious
chief to quit his repose at Mount Ver-
non and take command of all the United
States forces, with rank of lieutenant-gen-
eral, when war was threatened with France
in 1798, nothing need here be stated, ex-
cept to note the fact as an unmistakable
testimonial of the high regard in which he
was still held by his countrymen of all
shades of political opinion. He patriotic-
ally accepted this trust, but a treaty of
peace put a stop to all action under it. He
again retired to Mount Vernon, where he
died December 14, 1799, in the sixty-eighth
year of his age. His remains were depos-
ited in a family vault on the banks of the
Potomac, at Mount Vernon, where they still
lie entombed.
BENJAMIN FRANKLIN, an eminent
American statesman and scientist, was
born of poor parentage, January 17, 1706,
in Boston, Massachusetts. He was appren-
ticed to his brother James to learn the print-
er's trade to prevent his running away and
going to sea, and also because of the numer-
ous family his parents had to support (there
being seventeen children, Benjamin being
the fifteenth). He was a great reader, and
soon developed a taste for writing, and pre-
pared a number of articles and had them
published in the paper without his brother's
knowledge, and when the authorship be-
came known it resulted in difficulty for the
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY.
n
young apprentice, although his articles had
been received with favor by the public.
James was afterwards thrown into prison for
political reasons, and young Benjamin con-
ducted the paper alone during the time. In
1823, however, he determined to endure his
bonds no longer, and ran away, going to
Philadelphia, where he arrived with only
three pence as his store of wealth. With
these he purchased three rolls, and ate them
as he walked along the streets. He soon
found employment as a journeyman printer.
Two years later he was sent to England by
the governor of Pennsylvania, and was
promised the public printing, but did not get
it. On hisTeturn to Philadelphia he estab-
lished the "Pennsylvania Gazette," and
soon found himself a person of great popu-
larity in the province, his ability as a writer,
philosopher, and politician having reached
the neighboring colonies. He rapidly grew
in prominence, founded the Philadelphia Li-
brary in 1842, and two years later the
American Philosophical Society and the
University of Pennsylvania. He was made
Fellow of the Royal Society in London in
1775. His world-famous investigations in
electricity and lightning began in 1746. He
became postmaster-general of the colonies
in 1753, having devised an inter-colonial
postal system. He advocated the rights of
the colonies at all times, and procured the
repeal of the Stamp Act in 1766. He was
elected to the Continental congress of 1775,
and in 1776 was a signer of the Declaration
of Independence, being one of the commit-
tee appointed to draft that paper. He rep-
resented the new nation in the courts of
Europe, especially at Paris, where his simple
dignity and homely wisdom won him the
admiration of the court and the favor of the
people. He was governor of Pennsylvania
lour years; was also a member of the con-
vention in 1787 that drafted the constitution
of the United States.
His writings upon political topics, anti-
slavery, finance, and economics, stamp him
as one of the greatest statesmen of his time,
while his "Autobiography" and "Poor
Richard's Almanac " give him precedence in
the literary field. In early life he was an
avowed skeptic in religious matters, but
later in life his utterances on this subject
were less extreme, though he never ex-
pressed approval of any sect or creed. He
died in Philadelphia April 17, 1790.
DANIEL WEBSTER.— Of world wide
reputation for statesmanship, diplo-
macy, and oratory, there is perhaps no more
prominent figure in the history of our coun-
try in the interval between 181 5 and 1861,
than Daniel Webster. He was born at
Salisbury (now Franklin), New Hampshire,
January 18, 1782, and was the second son
of Ebenezer and Abigail (Eastman) Webster.
He enjoyed but limited educational advan-
tages in childhood, but spent a few months
in 1797, at Phillip Exeter Academy. He
completed his preparation for college in the
family of Rev. Samuel Wood, at Boscawen,
and entered Dartmouth College in the fall
of 1797. He supported himself most of the
time during these years by teaching school
and graduated in 1801, having the credit of
being the foremost scholar of his class. He
entered the law office of Hon. Thomas W.
Thompson, at Salisbury. In 1S02 he con-
tinued his legal studies at Fryeburg, Maine,
where he was principal of the academy and
copyist in *the office of the register of
deeds. In the office of Christopher Gore,
at Boston, he completed his studies in
1804-5, ar, d was admitted to the bar in the
latter year, and at Boscawen and at Ports-
mouth soon rose to eminence in his profes-
20
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY.
sion. He became known as a federalist
but did not court political honors; but, at-
tracting attention by his eloquence in oppos-
ing the war with England, he was elected
to congress in 1812. During the special
session of May, 18 13, he was appointed on
the committee on foreign affairs and made
his maiden speech June 10, 1S13. Through-
out this session (as afterwards) he showed
his mastery of the great economic questions
of the day. He was re-elected in 1814. In
1816 he removed to Boston and for seven
years devoted himself to his profession,
earning by his arguments in the celebrated
"Dartmouth College Case" rank among
the most distinguished jurists of the country.
In 1820 Mr. Webster was chosen a member
of the state convention of Massachusetts, to
revise the constitution. The same year he
delivered the famous discourse on the " Pil-
grim fathers," which laid the foundation for
his fame as an orator. Declining a nomi-
nation for United States senator, in 1822 he
was elected to the lower house of congress
and was re-elected in 1824 and 1826, but in
1827 was transferred to the senate. He
retained his seat in the latter chamber until
1 841. During this time his voice was ever
lifted in defence of the national life and
honor and although politically opposed to
him he gave his support to the administra-
tion of President Jackson in the latter's con-
test with nullification. Through all these
years he was ever found upon the side of
right arid justice and his speeches upon all
the great questions of the day have be-
come household words in almost every
family. In 1841 Mr. Webster was appointed
secretary of state by President Harrison
and was continued in the same office by
President Tyler. While an incumbent of
this office he showed consummate ability as
a diplomat in the negotiation of the " Ash-
burton treaty " of August 9, 1849, which
settled many points of dispute between the
United States and England. In May, 1843,
he resigned his post and resumed his pro-
fession, and in December, 1845, took his
place again in the senate. He contributed
in an unofficial way to the solution of the
Oregon question with Great Britain in 1847.
He was disappointed in 1848 in not receiv-
ing the nomination for the presidency. He
became secretary of state under President
Fillmore in 1850 and in dealing with all the
complicated questions of the day showed a
wonderful mastery of the arts of diplomacy.
Being hurt in an accident he retired to his
home at Marshfield, where he died Octo-
ber 24, 1S52.
HORACE GREELEY. —As journalist,
author, statesman and political leader,
there is none more widely known than the
man whose name heads this article. He
was born in Amherst, New Hampshire, Feb-
ruary 3, 181 1, and was reared upon a farm.
At an early age he evinced a remarkable
intelligence and love of learning, and at
the age of ten had read every book he could
borrow for miles around. About 1821 the
family removed to Westhaven, Vermont,
and for some years young Greeley assisted
in carrying on the farm. In 1826 he entered
the office of a weekly newspaper at East
Poultney, Vermont, where he remained
about four years. On the discontinuance
of this paper he followed his father's
family to Erie county, Pennsylvania,
whither they had moved, and for a time
worked at the printer's trade in that neigh-
borhood. In 1 83 1 Horace went to New
York City, and for a time found employ-
ment as journeyman printer. January,
1833, in partnership with Francis Story, he
published the Morning Post, the first penny
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY.
21
paper ever printed. This proved a failure
and was discontinued after three weeks.
The business of job printing was carried on,
however, until the death of Mr. Story in
July following. In company with Jonas
Winchester, March 22, 1834, Mr. Greeley
commenced the publication of the New
Yorker, a weekly paper of a high character.
For financial reasons, at the same time,
Greeley wrote leaders for other papers, and,
in 1838, took editorial charge of the Jeffer-
sonian, a Whig paper published at Albany.
In 1840, on the discontinuance of that sheet,
he devoted his energies to the Log Cabin, a
campaign paper in the interests of the Whig
party. In the fall of 1841 the latter paper
was consolidated with the New Yorker, un-
der the name of the Tribune, the first num-
ber of which was issued April 10, 184 1. At
the head of this paper Mr. Greeley remained
until the day of his death.
In 1848 Horace Greeley was elected to
the national house of representatives to
fill a vacancy, and was a member of that
body until March 4, 1849. In 1851 he went
to Europe and served as a juror at the
World's Fair at the Crystal Palace, Lon-
don. In 1855, he made a second visit to
the old world. In 1859 he crossed the
plains and received a public reception at
San Francisco and Sacramento. He was a
member of the Republican national con-
vention, at Chicago in i860, and assisted in
the nomination of Abraham Lincoln for
President. The same year he was a presi-
dential elector for the state of New York,
and a delegate to the Loyalist convention
at Philadelphia.
At the close of the war, in 1865, Mr.
Greeley became a strong advocate of uni-
versal amnesty and complete pacification,
and in pursuance of this consented to be-
come one of the bondsmen for Jefferson
Davis, who was imprisoned for treason. In
1867 he was a delegate to the New York
state convention for the revision of the
constitution. In 1870 he was defeated for
congress in the Sixth New York district.
At the Liberal convention, which met in
Cincinnati, in May, 1872, on the fifth ballot
Horace Greeley was nominated for presi-
dent and July following was nominated for
the same office by the Democratic conven-
tion at Baltimore. He was defeated by a
large majority. The large amount of work
done by him during the campaign, together
with the loss of his wife about the same
time, undermined his strong constitution,
and he was seized with inflammation of the
brain, and died November 29, 1872.
In addition to his journalistic work, Mr.
Greeley was the author of several meritori-
ous works, among which were: "Hints
toward reform," "Glances at Europe,"
" History of the struggle for slavery exten
sion," "Overland journey to San Francis-
co," "The American conflict," and " Rec-
ollections of a busy life."
HENRY CLAY.— In writing of this em-
inent American, Horace Greeley once
said: "He was a matchless party chief, an
admirable orator, a skillful legislator, wield-
ing unequaled influence, not only over his
friends, but even over those of his political
antagonists who were subjected to the magic
of his conversation and manners. " A law-
yer, legislator, orator, and statesman, few
men in history have wielded greater influ-
ence, or occupied so prominent a place in
the hearts of the generation in which they
lived.
Henry Clay was born near Richmond,
in Hanover county, Virginia, April 12,
1777, the son of a poor Baptist preacher
who died when Henry was but five years
22
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHT.
old. The mother married again about ten
years later and removed to Kentucky leav-
ing Henry a clerk in a store at Richmond.
Soon afterward Henry Clay secured a posi-
tion as copyist in the office of the clerk of the
high court of chancery, and four years later
entered the law office of Robert Brooke,
then attorney general and later governor of
his native state. In 1797 Henry Clay was
licensed as a lawyer and followed his mother
to Kentucky, opening an office at Lexington
and soon built up a profitable practice.
Soon afterward Kentucky, in separating from
Virginia, called a state convention for the
purpose of framing a constitution, and Clay
at that time took a prominent part, publicly
urging the adoption of a clause providing
for the abolition of slavery, but in this he
was overruled, as he was fifty years later,
when in the height of his fame he again ad-
vised the same course when the state con-
stitution was revised in 1850. Young Clay
took a very active and conspicuous part in
the presidential campaign in 1S00, favoring
the election of Jefferson; and in 1803 was
chosen to represent Fayette county in the
state 'egislature. In 1806 General John
Adair, then United States senator from
Kentucky, resigned and Henry Clay was
elected to fill the vacancy by the legislature
and served through one session in which he
at once assumed a prominent place. In
1807 he was again a representative in the
legislature and was elected speaker of the
house. At this time originated his trouble
with Humphrey Marshall. Clay proposed
that each member clothe himself and family
wholly in American fabrics, which Marshall
characterized as the " language of a dema-
gogue." This led to a duel in which both
parties were slightly injured. In 1S09
Henry Clay was again elected to fill a va-
cancy in the United States senate, and two
years later elected representative in the low-
er house of congress, being chosen speaker
of the house. About this time war was de-
clared against Great Britain, and Clay took
a prominent public place during this strug-
gle and was later one of the commissioners
sent to Europe by President Madison to ne-
gotiate peace, returning in September, 1815,
having been re-elected speaker of the
house during his absence, and was re-elect-
ed unanimously. He was afterward re-
elected to congress and then became secre-
tary of state under John Quincy Adams.
In 1 83 1 he was again elected senator from
Kentucky and remained in the senate most
of the time until his death.
Henry Clay was three times a candidate
for the presidency, and once very nearly
elected. He was the unanimous choice of
the Whig party in 1844 for the presidency,
and a great effort was made to elect him
but without success, his opponent, James K.
Polk, carrying both Pennsylvania and New
York by a very slender margin, while either
of them alone would have elected Clay.
Henry Clay died at Washington June 29,
1852.
JAMES GILLESPIE BLAINE was one
of the most distinguished of American
statesmen and legislators. He was born
January 31, 1830, in Washington county,
Pennsylvania, and received a thorough edu-
cation, graduating at Washington College in
1847. In early life he removed to Maine
and engaged in newspaper work, becoming
editor of the Portland 'Advertiser." While
yet a young man he gained distinction as a
debater and became a conspicuous figure in
political and public affairs. In 1862 he was
elected to congress on the Republican ticket
in Maine and was re-elected five times. In
March, 1869, he was chosen speaker of the
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRATHT.
23
house of representatives and was re-elected
in 1 87 1 and again in 1 873. In 1 S76 he was
a representative in the lower house of con-
gress and during that year was appointed
United States senator by the Governor to
fill a vacancy caused by the resignation of
Senator Morrill, who had been appointed
secretary of the treasury. Mr. Blaine
served in the senate until March 5, 1881,
when President Garfield appointed him sec-
retary of state, which position he resigned
in December, 1881. Mr. Blaine was nom-
inated for the presidency by the Republic-
ans, at Chicago in June, 1884, but was de-
feated by Grover Cleveland after an exciting
and spirited campaign. During the later
years of his life Mr. Blaine devoted most of
his time to the completion of his work
"Twenty Years in Congress," which had a
remarkably large sale throughout the United
States. Blaine was a man of great mental
ability and force of character and during the
latter part of his life was one of the most
noted men of his time. He was the origina-
tor of what is termed the " reciprocity idea"
in tariff matters, and outlined the plan of
carrying it into practical effect. In 1876
Robert G. Ingersoll in making a nominating
speech placing Blaine's name as a candidate
for president before the national Republican
convention at Cincinnati, referred to Blaine
as the " Plumed Knight " and this title clung
to him during the remainder of his life. His
death occurred at Washington, January 27,
I893-
JOHN CALDWELL CALHOUN, a dis-
<J tinguished American statesman, was a
native of South Carolina, born in Abbeville
district, March 18, 17S2. He was given
the advantages of a thorough education,
graduating at Yale College in 1804, and
adopted the calling of a lawyer. A Demo-
crat politically, at that time, he took a fore-
most part in the councils of his party and
was elected to congress in 1S1 1, supporting
the tariff of 18 16 and the establishing of
the United States Bank. In 18 17 he be-
came secretary of war in President Monroe's
cabinet, and in 1 824 waselected vice-president
of the United States, on the ticket with John
Quincy Adams, and re-elected in 1 828, on the
ticket with General Jackson. Shortly after
this Mr. Calhoun became one of the strongest
advocates of free trade and the principle of
sovereignty of the states and was one of
the originators of the doctrine that "any
state could nullify unconstitutional laws of
congress." Meanwhile Calhoun had be-
come an aspirant for the presidency, and
the fact that General Jackson advanced the
interests of his opponent, Van Buren, led
to a quarrel, and Calhoun resigned the vice-
presidency in 1832 and was elected United
Statessenator from South Carolina. It was
during the same year that a convention was
held in South Carolina at which the " Nul-
lification ordinance " was adopted, the -ib-
ject of which was to test the constitution-
ality of the protective tariff measures, and
to prevent if possible the collection of im-
port duties in that state which had been
levied more for the purpose of "protection"
than revenue. This ordinance was to go
into effect in February, 1833, and created a
great deal of uneasiness throughout the
country as it was feared there would be a
clash between the state and federal authori-
ties. It was in this serious condition of
public affairs that Henry Clay came forward
with the the famous "tariff compromise"
of 1833, to which measure Calhoun and
most of his followers gave their support and
the crisis was averted. In 1S43 Mr. Cal-
houn was appointed secretary of state in
President Tyier's cabinet, and it was Under
24
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHT.
his administration that the treaty concern-
ing the annexation of Texas was negotiated.
In 1845 he was re-elected to the United
States senate and continued in the senate
until his death, which occurred in March,
1850. He occupied a high rank as a scholar,
student and orator, and it is conceded that
he was one of the greatest debaters America
has produced. The famous debate between
Calhoun and Webster, in 1833, is regarded
as the most noted for ability and eloquence
in the history of the country.
BENJAMIN FRANKLIN BUTLER, one
of America's most brilliant and pro-
found lawyers and noted public men, was
a native of New England, born at Deer-
field, New Hampshire, November 5, 1818.
His father, Captain John Butler, was a
prominent man in his day, commanded a
company during the war of 181 2, and
served under Jackson at New Orleans.
Benjamin F. Butler was given an excellent
education, graduated at Waterville College,
Maine, studied law, was admitted to the
bar in 1840, at Lowell, Massachusetts,
where he commenced the practice of his
profession and gained a wide reputation for
his ability at the bar, acquiring an extensive
practice and a fortune. Early in life he
began taking an active interest in military
affairs and served in the state militia through
all grades from private to brigadier-general.
In 1853 he was elected to the state legisla-
ture on the Democratic ticket in Lowell,
and took a prominent part in the passage of
legislation in the interests of labor. Dur-
ing the same year he was a member of the
constitutional convention, and in 1859 rep-
resented his district in the Massachusetts
senate. When the Civil war broke out
General Butler took the field and remained
at the front most of the time during that
bloody struggle. Part of the time he had
charge of Fortress Monroe, and in Febru-
ary, 1862, took command of troops forming
part of the expedition against New Orleans,
and later had charge of the department of
the Gulf. He was a conspicuous figure dur-
ing the continuance of the war. After the
close of hostilities General Butler resumed
his law practice in Massachusetts and in
1866 was elected to congress from the Es-
sex district. In 1882 he was elected gov-
ernor of Massachusetts, and in 1884 was the
nominee of the "Greenback" party for
president of the United States. He con-
tinued his legal practice, and maintained his
place as one of the most prominent men in
New England until the time of his death,
which occurred January 10, 1893.
JEFFERSON DAVIS, an officer, states-
man and legislator of prominence in
America, gained the greater part of his fame
from the fact that he was president of the
southern confederacy. Mr. Davis was born
in Christian county, Kentucky, June 3,
1808, and his early education and surround-
ings were such that his sympathies and in-
clinations were wholly with the southern
people. He received a thorough education,
graduated at West Point in 1828, and for a
number of years served in the army at west-
ern posts and in frontier service, first as
lieutenant and later as adjutant. In 1835
he resigned and became a cotton planter in
Warren county, Mississippi, where he took
an active interest in public affairs and be-
came a conspicuous figure in politics. In
1844 he was a presidential elector from
Mississippi and during the two following
years served as congressman from his d ; s-'
trict. He then became colonel of a Missis-
sippi regiment in the war with Mexico ana
participated in some of the most severe pac-
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHr
25
ties, being seriously wounded at Buena
Vista. Upon his return to private life he
again took a prominent part in political af-
fairs and represented his state in the United
States senate from 1847 to 1S51. He then
entered President Pierce's cabinet as secre-
tary of war, after which he again entered
the United States senate, remaining until
the outbreak of the Civil war. He then be-
came president of the southern confederacy
and served as such until captured in May,
1865, at Irwinville, Georgia. He was held
as prisoner of war at Fortress Monroe, until
1867, when he was released on bail and
finally set free in 1868. His death occurred
December 6, 1889.
Jefferson Davis was a man of excellent
abilities and was recognized as one of the
best organizers of his day. He was a
forceful and fluent speaker and a ready
writer. He wrote and published the " Rise
and Fall of the Southern Confederacy," a
work which is considered as authority by
the southern peopl.-
JOHN ADAMS, the second president of
the United States, and one of the most
conspicuous figures in the early struggles of
his country for independence, was born in
the present town of Quincy, then a portion
of Braintree, Massachusetts, October 30,
1735. He received a thorough education,
graduating at Harvard College in 1755,
studied law and was admitted to the bar in
1758. He was well adapted for this profes-
sion and after opening an office in his native
town rapidly grew in prominence and public
favor and soon was regarded as one of the
leading lawyers of the country. His atten-
tion was called to political affairs by the
passage of the Stamp Act, in 1765, and he
drew up a set of resolutions on the subject
■which were very popular. In 1768 he re-
moved to Boston and became one of the
most courageous and prominent advocates
of the popular cause and was chosen a
member of the Colonial legislature from
Boston. He was one of the delegates that
represented Massachusetts in the first Con^
tinental congress, which met in September,
1774. In a letter written at this crisis he
uttered the famous words: "The die is now
cast; I have passed the Rubicon. Sink or
swim, live or die, survive or perish with my
country, is my unalterable determination."
He was a prominent figure in congress and
advocated the movement for independence
when a majority of the members were in-
clined to temporize and to petition the King.
In May, 1776, he presented a resolution in
congress that the colonies should assume
the duty of self-government, which was
passed. In June, of the same year, a reso-
lution that the United States "are, and oi
right ought to be, free and independent,"
was moved by Richard H. Lee, seconded by
Mr. Adams and adopted by a small majority.
Mr. Adams was a member of the committee
of five appointed June 1 1 to prepare a
declaration of independence, in support of
which he made an eloquent speech. He was
chairman of the Board of War in 1776 and
in 1 778 was sent as commissioner to France,
but returned the following year. In 1780
he went to Europe, having been appointed
as minister to negotiate a treaty of peace
and commerce with Great Britain. Con-
jointly with Franklin and Jay he negotiated
a treaty in 1782. He was employed as a
minister to the Court of St. James from
1785 to 1788, and during that period wrote
his famous "Defence of the American Con-
stitutions." In 1789 he became vice-presi-
dent of the United States and was re-elected
in 1792.
In 1796 Mr. Adams was chosen presi-
26
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHT.
dent of the United States, his competitor
being Thomas Jefferson, who became vice-
president. In 1800 he was the Federal
candidate for president, but he was not
cordially supported by Gen. Hamilton, the
favorite leader of his party, and was de-
feated by Thomas Jefferson.
Mr. Adams then retired from public life
to his large estate at Quincy, Mass. , where
he died July 4, 1826, on the same day that
witnessed the death of Thomas Jefferson.
Though his physical frame began to give way
many years before his death, his mental
powers retained their strength and vigor to
the last. In his ninetieth year he was glad-
dened by .the elevation of his son, John
Quincy Adams, to the presidential office.
HENRY WARD BEECHER, one of the
most celebrated American preachers
and authors, was born at Litchfield, Connec-
ticut, June 24, 1 8 1 3. His father was Dr. Ly-
man Beecher, also an eminent divine. At
an early age Henry Ward Beecher had a
strong predilection for a sea-faring life, and
it was practically decided that he would fol-
low this inclination, but about this time, in
consequence of deep religious impressions
which he experienced during a revival, he
renounced his former intention and decided
to enter the ministry. After having grad-
uated at Amherst College, in 1834, he stud-
ied theology at Lane Seminary under the
tuition of his father, who was then president
of that institution. In 1847 he became pas-
tor of the Plymouth Congregational church
in Brooklyn, where his oratorical ability and
original eloquence attracted one of the larg-
est congregations in the country. He con-
tinued to served this church until the time
of his death, March 8, 1S87. Mr. Beecher
also found time for a great amount of liter-
ary work- For a number of years he was
editor of the "Independent" and also the
' ' Christian Union. " He also produced many
works which are widely known. Among his
principal productions are "Lectures to Young
Men," " Star Papers, " "Life of Christ,"
"Life Thoughts," "Royal Truths" (a
novel), "Norwood," " Evolution and Rev-
olution," and "Sermons on Evolution and
Religion." Mr. Beecher was also long a
prominent advocate of anti-slavery princi-
ples and temperance reform, and, at a later
period, of the rights of women.
JOHN A. LOGAN, the illustrious states-
man and general, was born in Jackson
county, Illinois, February 9, 1824. In his
boyhood days he received but a limited edu-
cation in the schools of his native county.
On the breaking out of the war with Mexico
he enlisted in the First Illinois Volunteers
and became its quartermaster. At the close
of hostilities he returned home and was
elected clerk of the courts of Jackson county
in 1849. Determining to supplement his
education Logan entered the Louisville Uni-
versity, from which he graduated in 1852
and taking up the study of law was admitted
to the bar. He attained popularity and suc-
cess in his chosen profession and was elected
to the legislature in 1852, 1853, 1856 and
1857. He was prosecuting attorney from
1853 to 1857. He was elected to congress
in 1858 to fill a vacancy and again in i860.
At the outbreak of the Rebellion, Logan re-
signed his office and entered the arm}', and
in September, 1861, was appointed colonel
of the Thirty-first Illinois Infantry, which he
led in the battles of Belmont and Fort Don-
elson. In the latter engagement he was
wounded. In March, 1862, he was pro-
moted to be brigadier-general and in the
following month participated in the battles
of Pittsburg Landing. In November, 1862,
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHi:
29
for gallant conduct he was made major-gen-
eral. Throughout the Vicksburg campaign
he was in command of a division of the Sev-
enteenth Corps and was distinguished at
Port Gibson, Champion Kills and in the
siege and capture cf Vicksburg. In October,
1863, he was placed in command of the
Fifteenth Corps, which he led with great
credit. During the terrible conflict before
Atlanta, July 22, 1864, on the death of
General McPherson, Logan, assuming com-
mand of the Army of the Tennessee, led it
on to victory, saving the day by his energy
and ability. He was shortly after succeeded
by General O. O. Howard and returned to
the command of his corps. He remained
in command until the presidential election,
when, feeling that his influence was needed
at home he returned thither and there re-
mained until the arrival of Sherman at Sa-
vannah, when General Logan rejoined his
command. In May, 1865, he succeeded
General Howard at the head of the Army of
the Tennessee. He resigned from the army
in August, the same year, and in November
was appointed minister to Mexico, but de-
clined the honor. He served in the lower
house of the fortieth and forty-first con-
gresses, and was elected United States sena-
tor from his native state in 1870, 1878 and
1885. He was nominated for the vice-presi-
dency in 1884 on the ticket with Blaine, but
was defeated. General Logan was the
author of "The Great Conspiracy, its origin
and history," published in 1885. He died
at Washington, December 26, 1886.
JOHN CHARLES FREMONT, the first
Republican candidate for president, was
born in Savannah, Georgia, January 2i 5
18 1 3. He graduated trom Charleston Col-
lege (South Carolina) in 1S30, and turned his
attention to civil engineering. He was shortly
2
afterward employed in the department of
government surveys on the Mississippi, and
constructing maps of that region. He was
made lieutenant of engineers, and laid be-
fore the war department a plan for pi ne-
trating the Rocky Mountain regions, which
was accepted, and in 1842 he set out upon
his first famous exploring expedition and ex-
plored the South Pass. He also planned an
expedition to Oregon by a new route further
south, but afterward joined his expedition
with that of Wilkes in the region of the
Great Salt Lake. He made a later expedi-
tion which penetrated the Sierra Nevadas,
and the San Joaquin and Sacramento river
valleys, making maps of all regions explored.
In 1845 he conducted the great expedi-
tion which resulted in the acquisition of
California, which it was believed the Mexi-
can government was about to dispose of to
England. Learning that the Mexican gov-
ernor was preparing to attack the American
settlements in his dominion, Fremont deter-
mined to forestall him. The settlers rallied
to his camp, and in June, 1846, he defeated
the Mexican forces at Sonoma Pass, and a
month later completely routed the governor
and his entire army. The Americans at
once declared their independence of Mexico,
and Fremont was elected governor of Cali-
fornia. By this time Commodore Stockton
had reached the coast with instructions from
Washington to conquer California. Fre-
mont at once joined him in that effort, which
resulted in the annexation of California with
its untold mineral wealth. Later Fremont
became involved in a difficulty with fellow
officers which resulted in a court martial,
and the surrender of his commission. He
declined to accept reinstatement. He af-
terward laid out a great road from the Mis-
sissippi river to San Francisco, and became
the first United States senator from Califor-
BO
coMPE.xniuir of biograpi/p.
nia, in 1849. In 1856 he was nominated
by the new Republican party as its first can-
didate for president against Buchanan, and
received 114 electoral votes, out of 296.
In 1 86 1 he was made major-general and
placed in charge of the western department.
He planned the reclaiming of the entire
Mississippi valley, and gathered an army of
thirty thousand men, with plenty of artil-
lery, and was ready to move upon the con-
federate General Price, when he was de-
prived of his command. He was nominated
for the presidency at Cincinnati in 1864, but
withdrew. He was governor of Arizona in
1878, holding the position four years. He
was interested in an engineering enterprise
looking toward a great southern trans-con-
tinental railroad, and in his later years also
practiced law in New York. He died July 1 3,
1 890.
WENDELL PHILLIPS, the orator and
abolitionist, and a conspicuous figure
in American history, was born November
29, 1 S 1 1 , at Boston, Massachusetts. He
received a good education at Harvard
College, from which he graduated in 1831,
and then entered the Cambridge Law School.
After completing his course in that institu-
tion, in 1833, he was admitted to the bar,
in 1834, at Suffolk. He entered the arena
of life at the time when the forces of lib-
erty and slavery had already begun their
struggle that was to culminate in the Civil
war. William Lloyd Garrison, by his clear-
headed, courageous declarations of the anti-
slavery principles, had done much to bring
about this struggle. Mr. Phillips was not a
man that could stand aside and see a great
struggle being carried on in the interest of
humanity and look passively on. He first
attracted attention as an orator in 1837, at
a meeting that was called to protest against
the murder of the Rev. Elijah P. Lovejoy.
The meeting would have ended in a few
perfunctory resolutions had not Mr. Phillips
by his manly eloquence taken the meeting
out of the hands of the few that were in-
clined to temporize and avoid radical utter-
ances. Having once started out in this ca-
reer as an abolitionist Phillips never swerved
from what he deemed his duty, and never
turned back. He gave up his legal practice
and launched himself heart and soul in the
movement for the liberation of the slaves.
He was an orator of very great ability and
by his earnest efforts and eloquence he did
much in arousing public sentiment in behalf
of the anti-slavery cause — possibly more
than any one man of his time. After the
abolition of slavery Mr. Phillips was, if pos-
sible, even busier than before in the literary
and lecture field. Besides temperance and
women's rights, he lectured often and wrote
much on finance, and the relations of labor
and capital, and his utterances on whatever
subject always bore the stamp of having
emanated from a master mind. Eminent
critics have stated that it might fairly be
questioned whether there has ever spoken
in America an orator superior to Phillips.
The death of this great man occurred Feb-
ruary 4, 1884.
WILLIAM TECUMSEH SHERMAN
was one of the greatest generals that
the world has ever produced and won im-
mortal fame by that strategic and famous
" march to the sea," in the war of the Re-
bellion. He was born February 8, 1820, at
Lancaster, Ohio, and was reared in the
family of the Hon. Thomas Ewing, as his
father died when he was but nine years of
age. He entered West Point in 1836, wa?
graduated from the same in 1840, and ap-
pointed a second lieutenant in the Third
COMPEXDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY.
31
Artillery. He passed through the various
grades of the service and at the outbreak of
the Civil war was appointed colonel of the
Thirteenth Regular Infantry. A full history
of General Sherman's conspicuous services
would be to repeat a history of the army.
He c 'inmanded a division at Shiloh, and
was instrumental in the winning of that bat-
tle, and was also present at the siege of Vicks-
burg. On July 4, 1863, he was appointed
brigadier-general of the regular army, and
shared with Hooker the victory of Mission-
ary Ridge. He was commander of the De-
partment of the Tennessee from October
27th until the appDiutment of General
Grant as lieutenant-general, by whom he
was appointed to the command of the De-
partment of the Mississippi, which he as-
sumed in March, 1864. He at once began
organizing the army and enlarging his "com-
munications preparatory to his march upon
Atlanta, which he started the same time of
the beginning of the Richmond campaign by
Grant. He started on May 6, and was op-
posed by Johnston, who had fifty thousand
men, but by consummate generalship, he
captured Atlanta, on September 2, after
several months of hard fighting and a severe
loss of men. General Sherman started on
his famous march to the sea November 15,
1864, and by December -10 he was before
Savannah, which he took on December 23.
This campaign is a monument to the genius
of General Sherman as he only lost 567
men from Atlanta to the sea. After rest-
ing his army he moved northward and occu-
pied the following places: Columbia,
Cheraw, Fayetteville, Ayersboro, Benton-
ville, Goldsboro, Raleigh, and April 18, he
accepted the surrender of Johnston's army
on a basis of agreement that was not re-
ceived by the Government with favor, but
finally accorded Johnston the same terms as
Lee was given by General Grant. He was
present at the grand review at Washington,
and after the close of the war was appointed
to the command of the military division of
the Mississippi; later was appointed lieu-
tenant-general, and assigned to the military
division of the Missouri. When General
Grant was elected president Sherman became
general, March 4, 1869, and succeeded to
the command of the army. His death oc-
curred February 14, 1S91, at Washington.
ALEXANDER HAMILTON, one of the
most prominent of the early American
statesmen and financiers, was born in Nevis,
an island of the West Indies, January 11,
1757, his father being a Scotchman and his
mother of Huguenot descent. Owing to the
death of his mother and business reverses
which came to his father, young Hamilton
was s;nt to his mother's relatives in Santa
Cruz; a few years later was sent to a gram-
mar school at Elizabethtown, New Jersey,
and in 1773 entered what is now known as
Columbia College. Even at that time he
began taking an active part in public affairs
and his speeches, pamphlets, and newspaper
articles on political affairs of the day at-
tracted considerable attention. In 1776 he
received a captain's commission and served
in Washington's army with credit, becoming
aide-de-camp to Washington with rank of
lieutenant-colonel. In 1 781 he resigned his
commission because of a rebuke from Gen-
eral Washington. He next received com-
mand of a New York battalion and partici-
pated in the battle of Yorktown. After
this Hamilton studied law, served several
terms in congress and was a member of the
convention at which the Federal Constitu-
tion was drawn up. His work connected
with " The Federalist " at about this time
attracted much attention. Mr. Hamilton.
-32
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY
was chosen as the first secretary of the
United States treasury and as such was the
author of the funding system and founder of
the United States Bank. In 1798 he was
made inspector-general of the army with the
rank of major-general and was also for a
short time commander-in-chief. In 1804
Aaron Burr, then candidate for governor of
New York, challenged Alexander Hamilton
to fight a duel, Burr attributing his defeat
to Hamilton's opposition, and Hamilton,
though declaring the code as a relic of bar-
barism, accepted the challenge. They met
at Weehawken, New Jersey, July n, 1804.
Hamilton declined to fire at his adversary,
but at Burr's first fire was fatally wounded
and died July 12, 1804.
ALEXANDER HAMILTON STEPH-
ENS, vice-president of the southern
confederacy, a former United States senator
and governor of Georgia, ranks among the
great men of American history. He was born
February 11, 1812, near Crawfordsville,
Georgia. He was a graduate of the Uni-
versity of Georgia, and admitted to the bar
in 1834. In 1837 he made his debut in
political life as a member of the state house
of representatives, and in 1 841 declined the
nomination for the same office; but in 1842
he was chosen by the same constituency as
state senator. Mr. Stephens was one of
the promoters of the Western and Atlantic
Railroad. In 1843 he was sent by his dis-
trict to the national house of representatives,
which office he held for sixteen consec-
utive years. He was a member of the
house during the passing of the Compromise
Bill, and was one of its ablest and most
active supporters. The same year (1850)
Mr. Stephens was a delegate to the state
convention that framed the celebrated
" Georgia Platform," and was also a dele-
gate to the convention that passed the ordi-
nance of secession, though he bitterly op-
posed that bill by voice and vote, yet he
readily acquiesced in their decision after
it received the votes of the majority of the
convention. He was chosen vice-president
of the confederacy without opposition, and
in 1865 he was the head of the commis-
sion sent by the south to the Hampton
Roads conference. He was arrested after
the fall of the confederacy and was con-
fined in Fort Warren as a prisoner of state
but was released on his own parole. Mr.
Stephens was elected to the forty-third,
forty-fourth, forty-fifth, forty-sixth and for-
ty-seventh congresses, with hardly more than
nominal opposition. He was one of the
Jeffersonian school of American politics.
He wrote a number of works, principal
among which are: "Constitutional View
of the War between the States," and a
" Compendium of the History of the United
States." He was inaugurated as governor
of Georgia November 4th, 1882, but died
March 4, 1883, before the completion of
his term.
ROSCOE CONKLING was one of the
most noted and famous of American
statesmen. He was among the most fin-
ished, fluent and eloquent orators that have
ever graced the halls of the American con-
gress; ever ready, witty and bitter in de-
bate he was at once admired and feared by
his political opponents and .revered by his
followers. True to his friends, loyal to the
last degree to those with whom his inter-
ests were associated, he was unsparing to his
foes and it is said "never forgot an injury."
Roscoe Conkling was born at Albany,
New York, on the 30th of October, 1829,
being a son of Alfred Conkling. Alfred
Conkling was also a native of New York,
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY
33
born at East Hampton, October 12, 1789,
and became one of the most eminent law-
yers in the Empire state; published several
legal works; served a term in congress; aft-
erward as United States district judge for
Northern New York, and in 1852 was min-
ister to Mexico. Alfred Conkling died in
1874-
Roscoe Conkling, whose name heads
this article, at an early age took up the
study of law and soon became successful and
prominent at the bar. About 1846 he re-
moved to Utica and in 1858 was elected
mayor of that city. He was elected repre-
sentative in congress from this district and
was re-elected three times. In 1867 he was
elected United States senator from the state
of New York and was re-elected in 1873
and 1879. In May, 1881, he resigned on
account of differences with the president.
In March, 1S82, he was appointed and con-
firmed as associate justice of the United
States supreme court but declined to serve.
His death occurred April 18, 1888.
WASHINGTON IRVING, one of the
most eminent, talented and popu-
lar of American authors, was born in New
York City, April 3, 1783. His father was
William Irving, a merchant and a native of
Scotland, who had married an English lady
and emigrated to America some twenty
years prior to the birth of Washington.
Two of the older sons, William and Peter,
were partially occupied with newspaper
work and literary pursuits, and this fact
naturally inclined Washington to follow
their example. Washington Irving was given
the advantages afforded by the common
schools until about sixteen years of age
when he began studying law, but continued
to acquire his literary training by diligent
perusal at home of the older English writers.
When nineteen he made his first literary
venture by printing in the ' ' Morning Chroni-
cle," then edited by his brother, Dr. Peter
Irving, a series of local sketches under the
nom-de-phune of " Jonathan Oldstyle." In
1804 he began an extensive trip through
Europe, returned in 1806, quickly com-
pleted his legal studies and was admitted to
the bar, but never practiced the profession.
In 1807 he began the amusing serial "Sal-
magundi," which had an immediate suc-
cess, and not only decided his future
career but long determined the charac-
ter of his writings. In 1808, assisted by
his brother Peter, he wrote "Knickerbock-
er's History of New York," and in 1810 an
excellent biography of Campbell, the poet.
After this, for some time, Irving's attention
was occupied by mercantile interests, but
the commercial house in which he was a
partner failed in 1S17. In 18 14 he was
editor of the Philadelphia "Analectic Maga-
zine." About 181 8 appeared his "Sketch-
Book," over the nom-de-plume of ' 'Geoffrey
Crayon," which laid the foundation of Ir-
ving's fortune and permanent fame. This
was soon followed by the legends of
"Sleepy Hollow," and " Rip Van Winkle,"
which at once took high rank as literary
productions, and Irving's reputation was
firmly established in both the old and new
worlds. After this the path of Irving was
smooth, and his subsequent writings ap-
peared with rapidity, including " Brace-
bridge Hall," "The Tales of a Traveler,"
" History of the Life and Voyages of Chris-
topher Columbus," "The Conquest of
Granada," "The Alhambra," "Tour on
the Prairies," "Astoria," "Adventures of
Captain Bonneville," " Wolfert's Roost,"
" Mahomet and his Successors," and "Life
of Washington," besides other works.
Washington Irving was never married.
34
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY.
He resided during the closing years of his
life at Sunnyside (Tarrytown) on the Hud-
son, where he died November 28, 1859.
CHARLES SUMNER.— Boldly outlined
on the pages of our history stands out
the rugged figure of Charles Sumner, states-
man, lawyer and writer. A man of unim-
peachable integrity, indomitable will and
with the power of tireless toil, he was a fit
leader in troublous times. First in rank as
an anti-slavery leader in the halls of con-
gress, he has stamped his image upon the
annals of his time. As an orator he took
front rank and, in wealth of illustration,
rhetoric and lofty tone his eloquence equals
anything to be found in history.
Charles Sumner was born in Boston,
Massachusetts, January 6, 181 1, and was
the son of Charles P. and Relief J. Sumner.
The family had long been prominent in that
state. Charles was educated at the Boston
Public Latin School; entered Harvard Col-
lege in 1826, and graduated therefrom in
1830. In 1 83 1 he joined the Harvard Law
School, then under charge of Judge Story,
and gave himself up to the study of law
with enthusiasm. His leisure was devoted
to contributing to the American Jurist. Ad-
mitted to the bar in 1834 he was appointed
reporter to the circuit court by Judge Story.
He published several works about this time,
and from 1835 to 1837 and again in 1843
was lecturer in the law school. He had
planned a lawyer's life, but in 1845 he gave
his attention to politics, speakingand working
against the admission of Texas to the Union
and subsequently against the Mexican war.
In 1848 he was defeated for congress on the
Free Soil ticket. His stand on the anti-
slavery question at that time alienated both
friends and clients, but he never swerved
from his convictions. In 185 1 he was elected
to the United States senate and took his
seat therein December 1 of that year. From
this time his life became the history of the
anti-slavery cause in congress. In August,
1852, he began his attacks on slavery by a
masterly argument for the repeal of the
fugitive slave law. On May 22, 1856, Pres-
ton Brooks, nephew of Senator Butler, of
South Carolina, made an attack upon Mr.
Sumner, at his desk in the senate, striking
him over the head with a heavy cane. The
attack was quite serious in its effects and
kept Mr. Sumner absent from his seat in the
senate for about four years. In 1857, 1863
and 1869 he was re-elected to the office of
senator, passing some twenty-three years in
that position, always advocating the rights
of freedom and equity. He died March II,
1874-
THOMAS JEFFERSON, the third pres-
ident of the United States, was born
near Charlottesville, Albemarle county, Vir-
ginia, April 13, 1743, and was the son of
Peter and Jane (Randolph) Jefferson. He
received the elements of a good education,
and in 1760 entered William and Mary Col-
lege. After remaining in that institution for
two years he took up the study of law with
George Wythe, of Williamsburg, Virginia,
one of the foremost lawyers of his day, and
was admitted to practice in 1767. He ob-
tained a large and profitable practice, which
he held for eight years. The conflict be-
tween Great Britain and the Colonies then
drew him into public life, he having for
some time given his attention to the study
of the sources of law, the origin of liberty
and equal rights.
Mr. Jefferson was elected to the Virginia
house of burgesses in 1769, and served in
that body several years, a firm supporter of
liberal measures, and, although a slave-
•COMrEXMCM OF biography.
35-
holder himself, an opponent of slavery.
With others, he was a leader among the op-
position to the king. He took his place as
a member of the Continental congress June
21, 1775, and after serving on several com-
mittees was appointed to draught a Declara-
tion of Independence, which he did, some
corrections being suggested by Dr. Franklin
and John Adams. This document was pre-
sented to congress June 28, 1776, and after
six days' debate was passed and was signed.
In the following September Mr. Jefferson
resumed his seat in the Virginia legislature,
and gave much time to the adapting of laws
of that state to the new condition of things.
He drew up the law, the first ever passed by
a legislature or adopted by a government,
which secured perfect religious freedom.
June 1, 1779, he succeeded Patrick Henry
as governor of Virginia, an office which,
after cooperating with Washington in de-
fending the country, he resigned two years
later. One of his own estates was ravaged
by the British, and his house at Monticello
was held by Tarleton for several days, and
Jefferson narrowly escaped capture. After
the death of his wife, in 1782, he accepted
the position of plenipotentiary to France,
which he had declined in 1776. Before
leaving he served a short time in congress
at Annapolis, and succeeded in carrying a
bill for establishing our present decimal sys-
tem of currency, one of his most useful pub-
lic services. He remained in an official ca-
pacity until October, 1789, and was a most
active and vigilant minister. Besides the
onerous duties of his office, during this time,
he published "Notes on Virginia," sent to
the United States seeds, shrubs and plants,
forwarded literary and scientific news and
gave useful advice to some of the leaders of
the French Revolution.
Mr. Jefferson landed in Virginia Novem-
ber 18, 1789, having obtained a leave of
absence from his post, and shortly after ac-
cepted Washington's offer of the portfolio"
of the department of state in his cabinet.
He entered upon the duties of his office in
March, 1 79 1 , and held it until January 1,
1794, when he tendered his resignation.
About this time he and Alexander Hamilton;
became decided and aggressive political op-
ponents, Jefferson being in warm sympathy
with the people in the French revolution
and strongly democratic in his feelings,
while Hamilton took the opposite side. In
1796 Jefferson was elected vice-president of
the United States. In 1S00 he was elected
to the presidency and was inaugurated
March 4, 1S01. During his administration,
which lasted for eight years, he having been'
re-elected in 1804, he waged a successful
war against the Tripolitan pirates; purchased
Louisiana of Napoleon; reduced the public
debt, and was the originator of many wise
measures. Declining a nomination for a
third term he returned to Monticello, where
he died July 4, 1826, but a few hours before,
the death of his friend, John Adams.
Mr. Jefferson was married January r,
1772, to Mrs. Martha Skelton, a young,
beautiful, and wealthy widow, who died
September 6, 1782, leaving three children,
three more having died previous to her
demise.
CORNELIUS VANDERBILT.known as
"Commodore" Vanderbilt, was the
founder of what constitutes the present im-
mense fortune of the Vanderbilt family. He
was born May 27, 1794, at Port Richmond,
Staten Island, Richmond county, New-
York, and we find him at sixteen years run-
ning a small vessel between his home and
New York City. The fortifications of Sta-
ten and Long Islands were just in course of
30
COMPENDIUM OF BIO GRAPH T.
construction, and he carried the laborers
from New York to the fortifications in his
" perianger, " as it was called, in the day,
and at night carried supplies to the fort on
the Hudson. Later he removed to New
York, where he added to his little fleet. At
the age of twenty-three he was free from
debt and was worth $9,000, and in 1817,
with a partner he built the first steamboat
that was run between New York and New
Brunswick, New Jersey, and became her
captain at a salary of $1,000 a year. The
next year he took command of a larger and
better boat and by 1824 he was in complete
control of the Gibbon's Line, as it was
called, which he had brought up to a point
where it paid $40,000 a year. Commodore
Vanderbilt acquired the ferry between New
York and Elizabethport, New Jersey, on a
fourteen years' lease and conducted this on
a paying basis. He severed his connections
with Gibbons in 1829 and engaged in
business alone and for twenty years he was
the leading steamboat man in the country,
building and operating steamboats on the
Hudson River, Long Island Sound, on the
Delaware River and the route to Boston,
and he had the monopoly of trade on these
routes. In 1850 he determined to broaden
his field of operation and accordingly built
the steamship Prometheus and sailed for
the Isthmus of Darien, where he desired to
make a personal investigation of the pros-
pects of the American Atlantic and Pacific
Ship Canal Company, in which he had pur-
chased a controlling interest. Commodore
Vanderbilt planned, as a result of this visit,
a transit route from Greytown on the At-
lantic coast to San Juan del Sud on the Pa-
cific coast, which was a saving of 700 miles
over the old route. In 1851 he placed three
steamers on the Atlantic side and four on
the Pacific side to accommodate the enor-
mous traffic occasioned by the discovery of
gold in California. The following year
three more vessels were added to his fleet
and a branch line established from New
Orleans to Greytown. In 1853 the Com-
modore sold out hisNicarauguaTransit Com-
pany, which had netted him $1,000,000
and built the renowned steam yacht, the
"North Star." He continued in the ship-
ping business nine years longer and accu-
mulated some $10,000,000. In 1861 he
presented to the government his magnifi-
cent steamer " Vanderbilt, " which had cost
him $800,000 and for which he received the
thanks of congress. In 1844 he became
interested in the railroad business which he
followed in later years and became one of
the greatest railroad magnates of his time.
He founded the Vanderbilt University at a
cost of $1,000,000. He died January 4,
1877, leaving a fortune estimated at over
$100,000,000 to his children.
DANIEL BOONE was one of the most
famous of the many Atnerican scouts,
pioneers and hunters which the early settle-
ment of the western states brought into
prominence. Daniel Boone was born Feb-
ruary 11, 1735, in Bucks county, Pennsyl-
vania, but while yet a young man removed
to North Carolina, where he was married.
In 1769, with five companions, he pene-
trated into the forests and wilds of Kentucky
— then uninhabited by white men. He had
frequent conflicts with the Indians and was
captured by them but escaped and continued
to hunt in and explore that region for over
a year, when, in 1771, he returned to his
home. In the summer of 1773, he removed
with his own and five other families into
what was then the wilderness of Kentucky,
and to defend his colony against the savages,
he built, in 1775, a fort at Boonesborough,
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY.
37
on the Kentucky river. This fort was at-
tacked by the Indians several times in 1777,
but they were repulsed. The following
year, however, Boone was surprised and
captured by them. They took him to De-
troit and treated him with leniency, but he
soon escaped and returned to his fort which
he defended with success against four hun-
dred and fifty Indians in August, 1778. His
son, Enoch Boone, was the first white male
child born in the state of Kentucky. In
1795 Daniel Boone removed with his family
to Missouri, locating about forty-five miles
west of the present site of St. Louis, where
he found fresh fields for his favorite pursuits
— adventure, hunting, and pioneer life. His
death occurred September 20, 1820.
HENRY WADSWORTH LONGFEL-
LOW, said to have been America's
greatest " poet of the people," was born at
Portland, Maine, February 27, 1807. He
entered Bowdoin College at the age of four-
teen, and graduated in 1825. During his
college days he distinguished himself in mod-
ern languages, and wrote several short
poems, one of the best known of which was
the "Hymn of the Moravian Nuns." After
his graduation he entered the law office of
his father, but the following year was offered
the professorship of modern languages at
Bowdoin, with the privilege of three years
study in Europe to perfect himself in French,
Spanish, Italian and German. After the
three years were passed he returned to the
United States and entered upon his profes-
sorship in 1829. His first volume was a
small essay on the "Moral and Devotional
Poetry of Spain" in 1833. In 1835 he pub-
lished some prose sketches of travel under
the title of "Outre Mer, a Pilgrimage be-
yond the Sea." In 1835 he was elected to
the chair of modern languages and literature
at Harvard University and spent a year in
Denmark, Sweden and Switzerland, culti-
vating a knowledge of early Scandinavian
literature and entered upon his professor-
ship in 1836. Mr. Longfellow published in
1839 " Hyperion, a Romance, " and ' ' Voices
of the Night, " and his first volume of original
verse comprising the selected poems of
twenty years work, procured him immediate
recognition as a poet. " Ballads and other
poems" appeared in 1842, the "Spanish
Student " a drama in three acts, in 1843,
"The Belfry of Bruges " in 1846, "Evan-
geline, a Tale of Acadia," in 1847, which
was considered his master piece. In 1845
he published a large volume of the "Poets
and Poetry of Europe," 1849 " Kavanagh,
a Tale," "The Seaside and Fireside" in
1850, "The Golden Legend" in 1 85 1, "The
Song of Hiawatha " in 1855, " The Court-
ship of Miles Standish " in 1858, " Tales of
a Wayside Inn " in 1863; " Flower de Luce"
in 1866;" "New England Tragedies" in
1869; "The Divine Tragedy" in 1871;
"Three Books of Song" in 1872; "The
Hanging of the Crane " in 1874. He also
published a masterly translation of Dante
in 1867-70 and the " Morituri Salutamus,"
a poem read at the fiftieth anniversary of
his class at Bowdoin College. Prof. Long-
fellow resigned his chair at Harvard Univer-
sity in 1854, but continued to reside at Cam-
bridge. Some of his poetical works have
been translated into many languages, and
their popularity rivals that of the best mod-
ern English poetry. He died March 24,
1882, but has left an imperishable fame as
one of the foremost of American poets.
PETER COOPER was in three partic-
ulars — as a capitalist and manufacturer,
as an inventor, and as a philanthropist —
connected intimately with some of the most
38
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY.
important and useful accessions to the in-
dustrial arts of America, its progress in in-
vention and the promotion of educational
and benevolent institutions intended for the
benefit of people at large. He was born
in New York city, February 12, 1791. His
life was one of labor and struggle, as it was
with most of America's successful men. In
early, boyhood he commenced to help his
father as a manufacturer of hats. He at-
tended school only for half of each day for
a single year, and beyond this his acquisi-
tions were all his own. When seventeen
years old he was placed with John Wood-
ward to learn the trade of coach-making and
served his apprenticeship so satisfactorily
that his master oPered to set him up in busi-
ness, but this he declined because of the
debt and obligation it would involve.
The foundation of Mr. Cooper's fortune
was laid in the invention of an improvement
in machines for shearing cloth. This was
largely called into use during the war of
18 1 2 with England when all importations
of cloth from that country were stopped.
The machines lost their value, however, on
the declaration of peace. Mr. Cooper then
turned his shop into the manufacture of
cabinet ware. He afterwards went into the
grocery business in New York and finally he
engaged in the manufacture of glue and isin-
glass which he carried on for more than
fifty years. In 1830 he erected iron works
in Canton, near Baltimore. Subsequently
he erected a rolling and a wire mill in the
city of New York, in which he first success-
fully applied anthracite to the puddling of
iron. In these works, he was the first to
roll wrought-iron beams for fire-proof build-
ings. These works grew to be very exten-
sive, including mines, blast furnaces, etc.
While in Baltimore Mr. Cooper built in
1830, after his own designs, the first loco-
motive engine ever constructed on this con-
tinent and it was successfully operated on
the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad. He also
took a great interest and invested large cap-
ital in the extension of the electric telegraph,
also in the laying of the first Atlantic cable;
besides interesting himself largely in the
New York state canals. But the most
cherished object of Mr. Cooper's life was
the establishment of an institution for the
instruction of the industrial classes, which
he carried out on a magnificent scale in New
York city, where the "Cooper Union"
ranks among the most important institu-
tions.
In May, 1876, the Independent party
nominated Mr. Cooper for president of the
United States, and at the election following
he received nearly 100,000 votes. His
death occurred April 4, 1883.
GENERAL ROBERT EDWARD LEE,
one of the most conspicuous Confeder-
ate generals during the Civil war, and one
of the ablest military commanders of mod-
ern times, was born at Stratford House,
Westmoreland county, Virginia, January 19,
1807. In 1825 he entered the West Point
academy and was graduated second in his
class in 1829, and attached to the army as
second lieutenant of engineers. For a
number of years he was thus engaged in en-
gineering work, aiding in establishing the
boundary line between Ohio and Michigan,
and superintended various river and harbor
improvements, becoming captain of engi-
neers in 1838. He first saw field service in
the Mexican war, and under General Scott
performed valuable and efficient service.
In that brilliant campaign he was conspicu-
ous for professional ability as well as gallant
and meritorious conduct, winning in quick
succession the brevets of major, lieutenant-
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY.
39
colonel, and co'onel for his part in the bat-
tles of Cerro Gordo, Contreras, Cherubusco,
Chapultepec, and in the capture of the city
Mexico. At the close of that war he re-
sumed his engineering work in connection
with defences along the Atlantic coast, and
from 1S52 to 1855 was superintendent of
the Military Academy, a position which he
gave up to become lieutenant-colonel of the
Second Cavalry. For several years there-
after he served on the Texas border, but
happening to be near Washington at the
time of John Brown's raid, October 17 to
25, 1859, Colonel Lee was placed in com-
mand of the Federal forces employed in its
repression. He soon returned to his regi-
ment in Texas where he remained the
greater part of i860, and March 16, 1861,
became colonel of his regiment by regular
promotion. Three weeks later, April 25, he
resigned upon the secession of Virginia,
went at once to Richmond and tendered his
services to the governor of that state, being
by acclamation appointed commander-in-
chief of its military and naval forces, with
the rank of major-general.
He at once set to work to organize and
develop the defensive resources of his state
and within a month directed the occupation
in force of Manassas Junction. Meanwhile
Virginia having entered the confederacy and
Richmond become the capitol, Lee became
one of the foremost of its military officers
and was closely connected with Jefferson
Davis in planning the moves of that tragic
time. Lee participated in many of the
hardest fought battles of the war among
which were Fair Oaks, White Lake Swamps,
Cold Harbor, and the Chickahominy, Ma-
nassas, Cedar Run, Antietam, Fredericks-
burg, Chancellorsville, Malvern Hill, Get-
tysburg, the battles of the Wilderness cam-
paign, all the campaigns about Richmond,
Petersburg, Five Forks, and others. Lee's
surrender at Appomatox brought the war to
a close. It is said of General Lee that but
few commanders in history have been so
quick to detect the purposes of an opponent
or so quick to act upon it. Never surpassed,
if ever equaled, in the art of winning the
passionate, personal love and admiration of
his troops, he acquired and held an influ-
ence over his army to the very last, founded
upon a supreme trust in his judgment, pre-
science and skill, coupled with his cool,
stable, equable courage. A great writer has
said of him: "As regards the proper meas-
ure of General Lee's rank among the sol-
diers of history, seeing what he wrought
with such resources as he had, under all the
disadvantages that ever attended his oper-
ations, it is impossible to measure what he
might have achieved in campaigns and bat-
tles with resources at his own disposition
equal to those against which he invariably
contended."
Left at the close of the war without es-
tate or profession, he accepted the presi-
dency of Washington College at Lexington,
Virginia, where he died October 12, 1870.
JOHN JAY, first chief-justice of the
United States, was born in New York,
December 12, 1745. He took up the study
of law, graduated from King's College
(Columbia College), and was admitted to
the bar in 1768. He was chosen a member
of the committee of New York citizens to
protest against the enforcement by the
British government of the Boston Port Bill,
was elected to the Continental congress
which met in 1774, and was author of the
addresses to the people of Great Britian and
of Canada adopted by that and the suc-
ceeding congress. He was chosen to the
provincial assembly of his own state, and
40
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY.
resigned from the Continental congress to
serve in that body, wrote most of its public
papers, including the constitution of the new
state, and was then made chief-justice. He
was again chosen as a member of the Con-
tinental congress in 1778, and became presi-
dent of that body. He was sent to Spain
as minister in 1780, and his services there
resulted in substantial and moral aid for the
struggling colonists. Jay, Franklin, and
Adams negotiated the treaty of peace with
Great Britain in 1782, and Jay was ap-
pointed secretary of foreign affairs in 1784,
and held the position until the adoption of
the Federal constitution. During this time
he had contributed strong articles to the
"Federalist" in favor of the adoption of
the constitution, and was largely instru-
mental in securing the ratification of that
instrument by his state. He was appointed
by Washington as first chief -justice of the
United States in 1789. In this high capac-
ity the great interstate and international
questions that arose for immediate settle-
ment came before him for treatment.
In 1794, at a time when the people in
gratitude for the aid that France had ex-
tended to us, were clamoring for the privilege
of going to the aid of that nation in her
struggle with Great Britain and her own op-
pressors, John Jay was sent to England as
special envoy to negotiate a treaty with
that power. The instrument known as
"Jay's Treaty " was the result, and while
in many of its features it favored our nation,
yet the neutrality clause in it so angered the
masses that it was denounced throughout
the entire country, and John Jay was burned
in effigy in the city of New York. The
treaty was finally ratified by Washington,
and approved, in August, 1795. Having
been elected governor of his state for three
consecutive terms, he then retired from
active life, declining an appointment as
chief-justice of the supreme court, made by
John Adams and confirmed by the senate.
He died in New York in 1829.
PHILLIP HENRY SHERIDAN was
one of the greatest American cavalry
generals. He was born March 6, 1831, at
Somerset, Perry county, Ohio, and was ap-
pointed to the United States Military Acad-
emy at West Point, from which he graduat-
ed and was assigned to the First Infantry as
brevet second lieutenant July 1, 1853.
After serving in Texas, on the Pacific coast,
in Washington and Oregon territories until
the fall of 1 86 1, he was recalled to the
states and assigned to the army of south-
west Missouri as chief quartermaster from
the duties of which he was soon relieved.
After the battle of Pea Ridge, he was quar-
termaster in the Corinth campaign, and on
May 25 he was appointed colonel of the
Second Michigan Cavalry. On July 1, in
command of a cavalry brigade, he defeated
a superior force of the enemy and was com-
missioned brigadier-general of volunteers.
General Sheridan was then transferred to
the army of the Ohio, and commanded a
division in the battle of Perrysville and also
did good service at the battle of Murfrees-
boro, where he was commissioned major-
general of volunteers. He fought with
great gallantry at Chickamauga, after which
Rosecrans was succeeded by General Grant,
under whom Sheridan fought the battle of
Chattanooga and won additional renown.
Upon the promotion of Grant to lieutenant-
general, he applied for the transfer of Gen-
eral Sheridan to the east, and appointed
him chief of cavalry in the army of the
Potomac. During the campaign of 1864
the cavalry covered the front and flanks of
the infantry until May 8, when it was wiuv
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY.
41
drawn and General Sheridan started on a
raid against the Confederate lines of com-
munication with Richmond and on May 25
he rejoined the army, having destroyed con-
siderable of the confederate stores and de-
feated their cavalry under General Stuart at
Yellow Tavern. The outer line of defences
around Richmond were taken, but the sec-
ond line was too strong to be taken by as-
sault, and accordingly Sheridan crossed the
Chickahominy at Meadow Bridge, reaching
James River May 14, and thence by White
House and Hanover Court House back to
the army. The cavalry occupied Cold
Harbor May 31, which they held until the
arrival of the infantry. On General Sheri-
dan's next raid he routed Wade Hampton's
cavalry, and August 7 was assigned to the
command of the Middle Military division,
and during the campaign of the Shenan-
doah Valley he performed the unheard of
feat of " destroying an entire army." He
was appointed brigadier-general of the reg-
ular army and for his victory at Cedar Creek
he was promoted to the rank of major-gen-
eral. General Sheridan started out Febru-
ary 27, 1865, with ten thousand cavalry
and destroyed the Virginia Central Railroad
and the James River Canal and joined the
army again at Petersburg March 27. He
commanded at the battle of Five Forks, the
decisive victory which compelled Lee to
evacuate Petersburg. On April 9, Lee tried
to break through Sheridan's dismounted
command but when the General drew aside
his cavalry and disclosed the deep lines of
infantry the attempt was abandoned. Gen-
eral Sheridan mounted his men and was about
to charge when a white flag was flown at the
head of Lee's column which betokened the
surrender of the army. After the war Gen-
eral Sheridan had command of the army of
the southwest, of the gulf and the depart-
ment of Missouri until he was appointed
lieutenant-general and assigned to the di-
vision of Missouri with headquarters at Chi-
cago, and assumed supreme command of
the army November 1, 1883, which post he
held until his death, August 5, 1888.
PH1NEAS T. BARNUM, the greatest
showman the world has ever seen, was
born at Danbury, Connecticut, July 5, 18 10.
At the age of eighteen years he began busi-
ness on his own account. He opened a re-
tail fruit and confectionery house, including
a barrel of ale, in one part of an old car-
riage house. He spent fifty dollars in fitting
up the store and the stock cost him seventy
dollars. Three years later he put in a full
stock, such as is generally carried in a
country store, and the same year he started
a Democratic newspaper, known as the
"Herald of Freedom." He soon found
himself in jail under a sixty days' sentence
for libel. During the winter of 1834-5 ne
went to New York and began soliciting busi-
ness for several Chatham street houses. In
1835 he embarked in the show business at
Niblo's Garden, having purchased the cele-
brated " Joice Heth" for one thousand dol-
lars. He afterward engaged the celebrated
athlete, Sig. Vivalia, and Barnum made his
' ' first appearance on any stage, " acting as a
"super" to Sig. Vivalia on his opening
night. He became ticket seller, secretary
and treasurer of Aaron Turner's circus in
1836 and traveled with it about the country.
His next venture was the purchase of a
steamboat on the Mississippi, and engaged
a theatrical company to show in the princi-
pal towns along that river. In 1840 he
opened Vaux Hall Garden, New York, with
variety performances, and introduced the
celebrated jig dancer, John Diamond, to the
public. The next year he quit the show
42
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY.
business and settled down in New York as
agent of Sear's Pictorial Illustration of the
Bible, but a few months later again leased
Vaux Hall. In September of the same year
he again left the business, and became
' ' puff " writer for the Bowery Amphitheater.
In December he bought the Scudder Museum,
and a year later introduced the celebrated
Tom Thumb to the world, taking him to
England in 1844, and remaining there three
years. He then returned to New York, and
in 1849, through James Hall Wilson, he en-
gaged the "Swedish Nightingale," Jenny
Lind, to come to this country and make a
tour under his management. He also had
sent the Swiss Bell Ringers to America in
1844. He became owner of the Baltimore
Museum and the Lyceum and Museum at
Philadelphia. In 1850 he brought a dozen
elephants from Ceylon to make a tour of this
country, and in 1851 sent the " Bateman
•Children" to London. During 185 1 and
1852 he traveled as a temperance lecturer,
and became president of a bank at Pequon-
nock, Connecticut. In 1852 he started a
weekly pictorial paper known as the " Illus-
trated News." In 1865 his Museum was
destroyed by fire, and he immediately leased
the Winter Garden Theatre, where he played
his company until he opened his own
Museum. This was destroyed by fire in
1868, and he then purchased an interest in
the George Wood Museum.
After dipping into politics to some ex-
tent, he began his career as a really great
showman in 1871. Three years later he
erected an immense circular building in New
York, in which he produced his panoramas.
He has frequently appeared as a lecturer,
some times on temperance, and some times
on other topics, among which were "Hum-
bugs of the World," "Struggles and
Triumphs," etc. He was owner of the im-
mense menagerie and circus known as the
"Greatest Show on Earth," and his fame
extended throughout Europe and America.
He died in 1891.
JAMES MADISON, the fourth president
of the United States, 1809-17, was
born at Port Conway, Prince George coun-
ty, Virginia, March 16, 1 75 1 . He was the
son of a wealthy planter, who lived on a fine
estate called " Montpelier," which was but
twenty-five miles from Monticello, the home
of Thomas Jefferson. Mr. Madison was the
eldest of a family of seven children, all of
whom attained maturity. He received his
early education at home under a private
tator, and consecrated himself with unusual
vigor to study. At a very early age he was
a proficient scholar in Latin, Greek, French
and Spanish, and in 1769 he entered Prince-
ton College, New Jersey. He graduated in
1 77 1, but remained for several months after
his graduation to pursue a course of study
under the guidance of Dr. Witherspoon.
He permanently injured his health at this
time and returned to Virginia in 1772, and
for two years he was immersed in the study
of law, and at the same time made extend-
ed researches in theology, general literature,
and philosophical studies. He then directed
his full attention to the impending struggle
of the colonies for independence, and also
took a prominent part in the religious con-
troversy at that time regarding so called
persecution of other religious denominations
by the Church of England. Mr. Madison
was elected to the Virginia assembly in 1776
and in November, 1777, he was chosen
a member of the council of state. He took
his seat in the continental congress in
March, 1780. He was made chairman of
the committee on foreign relations, and
drafted an able memoranda for the use of
COMPENDIUM OF BJOGRAPHT.
43
the American ministers to the French and
Spanish governments, that established the
claims of the republic to the territories be-
tween the Alleghany Mountains and the
Mississippi River. He acted as chairman of
the ways and means committee in 1783 and
as a member of the Virginia legislature in
1784-86 he rendered important services to
the state. Mr. Madison represented Vir-
giana in the national constitutional conven-
tion at Philadelphia in 1787, and was one of
the chief framers of the constitution. He
was a member of the first four congresses,
1789-97, and gradually became identified
with the anti-federalist or republican party
of which he eventually became the leader.
He remained in private life during the ad-
ministration of John Adams, and was secre-
tary of state under President Jefferson. Mr.
Madison administered the affairs of that
post with such great ability that he was the
natural successor of the chief magistrate
and was chosen president by an electoral
vote of 122 to 53. He was inaugurated
March 4, 1809, at that critical period in our
history when the feelings of the people were
embittered with those of England, and his
first term was passed in diplomatic quarrels,
which finally resulted in the declaration of
war, June 18, 1812. In the autumn of that
year President Madison was re-elected by a
vote of 128 to 89, and conducted the war
for three years with varying success and
defeat in Canada, by glorious victories at
sea, and by the battle of New Orleans that
was fought after the treaty of peace had
been signed at Ghent, December 24, 18 14.
During this war the national capitol at
Washington was burned, and many valuable
papers were destroyed, but the declaration
of independence was saved to the country
by the bravery and courage of Mr. Madi-
son's illustrious wife. A commercial treaty
was negotiated with Great Britain in 181 5,
and in April, 1816, a national bank was in-
corporated by congress. Mr. Madison was
succeeded, March 4, 181 7, by James Monroe,
and retired into private life on his estate at
Montpelier, where he died June 28, 1836.
FREDERICK DOUGLASS, a noted
American character, was a protege of
the great abolitionist, William Lloyd Garri-
son, by whom he was aided in gaining his
education. Mr. Douglass was born in Tuck-
ahoe county, Maryland, in February, 18 17,
his mother being a negro woman and his
father a white man. He was born in slav-
ery and belonged to a man by the name of
Lloyd, under which name he went until he
ran away from his master and changed it to
Douglass. At the age of ten years he was
sent to Baltimore where he learned to read
and write, and later his owner allowed him
to hire out his own time for three dollars a
week in a shipyard. In September, 1838,
he fled from Baltimore and made his way to
New York, and from thence went to New
Bedford, Massachusetts. Here he was mar-
ried and supported himself and family by
working at the wharves and in various work-
shops. In the summer of 1841 he attended
an anti-slavery convention at Nantucket,
and made a speech which was so well re-
ceived that he was offered the agency of the
Massachusetts Anti-slavery Society. In this
capacity he traveled through the New En-
gland states, and about the same time he
published his first book called "Narrative
of my Experience in Slavery." Mr. Doug-
lass went to England in 1845 and lectured
on slavery to large and enthusiastic audi-
ences in all the large towns of the country,
and his friends made up a purse of seven
hundred and fifty dollars and purchased his
freedom in due form of law.
44
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPIIV.
Mr. Douglass applied himself to the de-
livery of lyceum lectures after the abolition
of slavery, and in 1870 he became the editor
of the " New National Era " in Washington.
In 1 87 1 he was appointed assistant secretary
of the commission to San Domingo and on
his return he was appointed one of the ter-
ritorial council for the District of Colorado
by President Grant. He was elected presi-
dential elector-at-large for the state of New
York and was appointed to carry the elect-
oral vote to Washington. He was also
United States marshal for the District of
Columbia in 1876, and later was recorder
of deeds for the same, from which position
he was removed by President Cleveland in
1886. In the fall of that year he visited
England to inform the friends that he had
made while there, of the progress of the
colored race in America, and on his return
he was appointed minister to Hayti, by
President Harrison in 1889. His career as
a benefactor of his race was closed by his
death in February, 1895, near Washington.
WILLIAM CULLEN BRYANT.— The
ear for rhythm and the talent for
graceful expression are the gifts of nature,
and they were plentifully endowed on the
above named poet. The principal charac-
teristic of his poetry is the thoughtfulness
and intellectual process by which his ideas
ripened in his mind, as all his poems are
bright, clear and sweet. Mr. Bryant was
born November 3, 1794, at Cummington,
Hampshire county, Massachusetts, and was
educated at Williams College, from which
he graduated, having entered it in 18 10.
He took up the study of law, and in 181 5
was admitted to the bar, but after practicing
successfully for ten years at Plainfield and
Great Barrington, he removed to New York
in 1825. The following year he became
the editor of the "Evening Post," which
he edited until his death, and under his di-
rection this paper maintained, through a
long series of years, a high standing by the
boldness of its protests against slavery be-
fore the war, by its vigorous support of the
government during the war, and by the
fidelity and ability of its advocacy of the
Democratic freedom in trade. Mr. Bry-
ant visited Europe in 1834, 1845, 1849 and
1857, and presented to the literary world
the fruit of his travels in the series of "Let-
ters of a Traveler," and "Letters from
Spain and Other Countries." In the world
of literature he is known chiefly as a poet,
and here Mr. Bryant's name is illustrious,
both at home and abroad. He contributed
verses to the "Country Gazette " before he
was ten years of age, and at the age of nine-
teen he wrote " Thanatopsis, " the most im-
pressive and widely known of his poems.
The later outgrowth of his genius was his
translation of Homer's "Iliad" in 1870
and the "Odyssey" in 1871. He also
made several speeches and addresses which
have been collected in a comprehensive vol-
ume called " Orations and Addresses." He
was honored in many ways by his fellow
citizens, who delighted to pay tributes of
respect to his literary eminence, the breadth
of his public spirit, the faithfulness of his
service, and the worth of his private char-
acter. Mr. Bryant died in New York City
June 12, 1878.
WILLIAM HENRY SEWARD, the
secretary of state during one of the
most critical times in the history of our
country, and the right hand man of Presi-
dent Lincoln, ranks among the greatest
statesmen America has produced. Mr.
Seward was born May 16, 1 801, at Florida,
Orange county, New York, and with such
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY.
facilities as the place afforded he fitted him-
self for a college course. He attended
Union College at Schenectady, New York,
at the age of fifteen, and took his degree in
the regular course, with signs of promise in
1S20, after which he diligently addressed
himself to the study of law under competent
instructors, and started in the practice of
his profession in 1823.
Mr. Seward entered the political arena
and in 1828 we find him presiding over a
convention in New York, its purpose being
the nomination of John Quincy Adams for a
second term. He was married in 1824 and
in 1830 was elected to the state senate.
From 1838 to 1842 he was governor of the
state of New York. Mr. Seward's next im-
portant position was that of United States
senator from New York.
W. H. Seward was chosen by President
Lincoln to fill the important office of the
secretary of state, and by his firmness and
diplomacy in the face of difficulties, he aided
in piloting the Union through that period of
strife, and won an everlasting fame. This
great statesman died at Auburn, New York,
October 10, 1872, in the seventy-second
year of his eventful life.
JOSEPH JEFFERSON, a name as dear
as it is familiar to the theater-going
world in America, suggests first of all a fun-
loving, drink-ioving, mellow voiced, good-
natured Dutchman, and the name of "Rip
Van Winkie " suggests the pleasant features
of Joe Jefferson, so intimately are play and
player associated in the minds of those who
have had the good fortune to shed tears of
laughter and sympathy as a tribute to the
greatness of his art. Joseph Jefferson was
born in Philadelphia, February 20, 1829.
His genius was an inheritance, if there be
such, as his great-grandfather, Thomas
3
Jefferson, was a manager and actor in Eng-
land. His grandfather, Joseph Jefferson,
was the most popular comedian of the New
York stage in his time, and his father, Jos-
eph Jefferson, the second, was a good actor
also, but the third Joseph Jefferson out-
shone them all.
At the age of three years Joseph Jeffer-
son came on the stage as the child in "Pi-
zarro," and his training was upon the stage
from childhood. Later on he lived and
acted in Chicago, Mobile, and Texas. After
repeated misfortunes he returned to New
Orleans from Texas, and his brother-in-law,
Charles Burke, gave him money to reach
Philadelphia, where he joined the Burton
theater company. Here his genius soon as-
serted itself, and his future became promis-
ing and brilliant. His engagements through-
out the United States and Australia were
generally successful, and when he went to
England in 1865 Mr. Boucicault consented
to make some important changes in his
dramatization of Irving's story of Rip Van
Winkle, and Mr. Jefferson at once placed
it in the front rank as a comedy. He made
a fortune out of it, and played nothing else
for many years. In later years, however,
Mr. Jefferson acquitted himself of the charge
of being a one-part actor, and the parts of
"Bob Acres," "Caleb Plummer" and
"Golightly " all testify to the versatility of
his genius.
GEORGE BRINTON McCLELLAN,
a noted American general, was born
in Philadelphia, December 3, 1826. He
graduated from the University of Pennsyl-
vania, and in 1846 from West Point, and
was breveted second lieutenant of engineers.
He was with Scott in the Mexican war,
taking part in all the engagements from
Vera Cruz to the final capture of the Mexi-
48
COMTEXDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY.
can capital, and was breveted first lieuten-
ant and captain for gallantry displayed on
various occasions. In 1857 he resigned his
commission and accepted the position of
chief engineer in the construction of the
Illinois Central Railroad, and became presi-
dent of the St. Louis & Cincinnati Railroad
Company. He was commissioned major-
general by the state of Ohio in 1861,
placed in command of the department of
the Ohio, and organized the first volunteers
called for from that state. In May he was
appointed major-general in the United
States army, and ordered to disperse the
confederates overrunning West Virginia.
He accomplished this task promptly, and
received the thanks of congress. After the
first disaster at Bull Run he was placed
in command of the department of Wash-
ington, and a few weeks later of the
Army of the Potomac. Upon retirement
of General Scott the command of the en-
tire United States army devolved upon Mc-
Clellan, but he was relieved of it within a
few months. In March, 1862, after elabor-
ate preparation, he moved upon Manassas,
only to find it deserted by the Confederate
army, which had been withdrawn to im-
pregnable defenses prepared nearer Rich-
mond. He then embarked his armies for
Fortress Monroe and after a long delay at
Yorktown, began the disastrous Peninsular
campaign, which resulted in the Army of the
Potomac being cooped up on the James
River below Richmond. His forces were
then called to the support of General Pope,
near Washington, and he was left without an
army. After Pope's defeat McClelian was
placed in command of the troops for the de-
fense of the capital, and after a thorough or-
ganization he followed Lee into Maryland
and the battles of Antietam and South Moun-
tain ensued. The delay which followed
caused general dissatisfaction, and he was re-
lieved of his command, and retired from active
service.
In 1S64 McClelian was nominated for
the presidency by the Democrats, and over-
whelmingly defeated by Lincoln, three
states only casting their electoral votes for
McClelian. On election day he resigned
his commission and a few months later went
to Europe where he spent several years.
He wrote a number of military text- books
and reports. His death occurred October
29, 1885.
SAMUEL J. TILDEN.— Among the great
statesmen whose names adorn the pages
of American history may be found that of
the subject of this sketch. Known as a
lawyer of highest ability, his greatest claim
to immortality will ever lie in his successful
battle against the corrupt rings of his native
state and the elevation of the standard of
official life.
Samuel J. Tilden was born in New Leb-
anon, New York, February 9, 1814. He
pursued his academic studies at Yale Col-
lege and the University of New York, tak-
ing the course of law at the latter. He
was admitted to the bar in 1841. His rare
ability as a thinker and writer upon public
topics attracted the attention of President
Van Buren, of whose policy and adminis-
tration he became an active and efficient
champion. He made for himself a high
place in his profession and amassed quite a
fortune as the result of his industry and
judgment. During the days of his greatest
professional labor he was ever one of the
leaders and trusted counsellors of the Demo-
cratic party. He was a member of the
conventions to revise the state constitution,
both in 1846 and 1S67, and served two
terms in the lower branch of the state leer-
C OMTEXM ( M OF BIO GRA PII ) '.
4<>
islature. He was one of the controlling
spirits in the overthrow of the notorious
" Tweed ring " and the reformation of the
government of the city of New York. In
1874 he was elected governor of the state
of New York. While in this position he
assailed corruption in high places, success-
fully battling with the iniquitous "canal
ring " and crushed its sway over all depart-
ments of the government. Recognizing his
character and executive ability Mr. Tilden
was nominated for president by the na-
tional Democratic convention in 1876. At
the election he received a much larger popu-
lar vote than his opponent, and 184 uncon-
tested electoral votes. There being some
electoral votes contested, a commission ap-
pointed by congress decided in favor of the
Republican electors and Mr. Hayes, the can-
didate of that party was declared elected.
In 1S80, the Democratic party, feeling that
Mr. Tilden had been lawfully elected to the
presidency tendered the nomination for the
same office to Mr. Tilden, but he declined,
retiring from all public functions, owing to
failing health. He died August 4, 1886.
By will he bequeathed several millions of
dollars toward the founding of public libra-
ries in New York City, Yonkers, etc.
NOAH WEBSTER.— As a scholar, law-
yer, author and journalist, there is no
one who stands on a higher plane, or whose
reputation is better established than the
honored gentleman whose name heads this
sketch. He was a native of West Hartford,
Connecticut, and was born October 17,
1758. He came of an old New England
family, his mother being a descendant of
Governor William Bradford, of the Ply-
mouth colony. After acquiring a solid edu-
cation in early life Dr. Webster entered
Yale College, from which he graduated in
1778. For a while he taught school hn
Hartford, at the same time studying law,
and was admitted to the bar in 178 1. He
taught a classical school at Goshen, Orange
county, New York, in 1782-S3, and while
there prepared his spelling book, grammar
and reader, which was issued under the title-
of "A Grammatical Institute of the English
Language," in three parts, — so successful a
work that up to 1876 something like forty
million of the spelling books had been
sold. In 1786 he delivered a course of lec-
tures on the English language in the seaboard
cities and the following year taught an
academy at Philadelphia. From December
17, 17S7, until November, 1788, he edited
the "American Magazine, "a periodical that
proved unsuccessful. In 1789-93 he prac-
ticed law in Hartford having in the former
year married the daughter of William Green-
leaf, of Boston. He returned to New York
and November, 1793, founded a daily paper,
the "Minerva," to which was soon added a
semi-weekly edition under the name of the
" Herald." The former is still in existence
under the name of the " Commercial Adver-
tiser." In this paper, over the signature of
"Curtius," he published a lengthy and schol-
arly defense of "John Jay's treaty."
In 1798, Dr. Webster moved to New
Haven and in 1807 commenced the prepar-
ation of his great work, the ' ' American Dic-
tionary of the English Language," which
was not completed and published until 1828.
He made his home in Amherst, Massachu-
setts, for the ten years succeeding 1812, and
was instrumental in the establishment of
Amherst College, of which institution he was
the first president of the board of trustees.
During 1824-5 he resided in Europe, pursu-
ing his philological studies in Paris. He
completed his dictionary from the libraries
of Cambridge University in 1825, and de-
50
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY
voted his leisure for the remainder of his
life to the revision of that and his school
books.
Dr. Webster was a member of the legis-
latures of both Connecticut and Massachu-
setts, was judge of one of the courts of the
former state and was identified with nearly
all the literary and scientific societies in the
neighborhood of Amherst College. He died
in New Haven, May 28, 1843.
Among the more prominent works ema-
nating from the fecund pen of Dr. Noah
Webster besides those mentioned above are
the following: "Sketches of American
Policy," " Winthrop's Journal ," "A Brief
History of Epidemics," " Rights of Neutral
Nations in time of War," "A Philosophical
and Practical Grammar of the English Lan-
guage," "Dissertations on the English
Language," "A Collection of Essays,"
"The Revolution in France," "Political
Progress of Britain," "Origin, History, and
Connection of the Languages of Western
Asia and of Europe," and many others.
WILLIAM LLOYD GARRISON, the
great anti-slavery pioneer and leader,
was born in Newburyport, Massachusetts,
December 12, 1804. He was apprenticed
to the printing business, and in 1828 was in-
duced to take charge of the "Journal of the
Times" at Bennington, Vermont. While
supporting John Quincy Adams for the presi-
dency he took occasion in that paper to give
expression of his views on slavery. These
articles attracted notice, and a Quaker
named Lundy, editor of the "Genius of
Emancipation," published in Baltimore, in-
duced him to enter a partnership with him
for the conduct of his paper. It soon
transpired that the views of the partners
were not in harmony, Lundy favoring grad-
ual emancipation, while Garrison favored
immediate freedom. In 1850 Mr. Garrison
was thrown into prison for libel, not being
able to pay a fine of fifty dollars and costs.
In his cell he wrote a number of poems
which stirred the entire north, and a mer-
chant, Mr. Tappan, of New York, paid his
fine and liberated him, after seven weeks of
confinement. He at once began a lecture
tour of the northern cities, denouncing
slavery as a sin before God, and demanding
its immediate abolition in the name of re-
ligion and humanity. He opposed the col-
onization scheme of President Monroe and
other leaders, and declared the right of
every slave to immediate freedom.
In 1 S3 1 he formed a partnership with
Isaac Knapp, and began the publication of
the "Liberator" at Boston. The "imme-
diate abolition " idea began to gather power
in the north, while the south became
alarmed at the bold utterance of this jour-
nal. The mayor of Boston was besought
by southern influence to interfere, and upon
investigation, reported upon the insignifi-
cance, obscurity, and poverty of the editor
and his staff, which report was widely
published throughout the country. Re-
wards were offered by the southern states
for his arrest and conviction. Later Garri-
son brought from England, where an eman-
cipation measure had just been passed,
some of the great advocates to work for the
cause in this country. In 1835 a mob
broke into his office, broke up a meeting of
women, dragged Garrison through the street
with a rope around his body, and his life
was saved only by the interference of the
police, who lodged him in jail. Garrison
declined to sit in the World's Anti-Slavery
convention at London in 1840, because
that body had refused women representa-
tion. He opposed the formation of a po-
litical party with emancipation as its basis.
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY.
51
He favored a dissolution of the union, and
declared the constitution which bound the
free states to the slave states " A covenant
with death and an agreement with hell. "
In 1843 he became president of the Amer-
ican Anti-Slavery society, which position he
held until 1865, when slavery was no more.
During all this time the " Liberator " had
continued to promulgate anti-slavery doc-
trines, but in 1865 Garrison resigned his
position, and declared his work was com-
pleted. He died May 24, 1879.
J
mie"), a noted character in American
history, wasbornatTorrington, Connecticut,
May 9, 1800. In his childhood he removed
to Ohio, where he learned the tanner's
trade. He married there, and in 1855 set-
tled in Kansas. He lived at the village of
Ossawatomie in that state, and there began
his fight against slavery. He advocated im-
mediate emancipation, and held that the
negroes of the slave states merely waited
for a leader in an insurrection that would re-
sult in their freedom. He attended the
convention called at Chatham, Canada, in
1S59, and was the leading spirit in organiz-
ing a raid upon the United States arsenal at
Harper's Ferry, Virginia. His plans were
well laid, and carried out in great secrecy.
He rented a farm house near Harper's Ferry
in the summer of 1859, and on October
1 6th of that year, with about twenty follow-
ers, he surprised and captured the United
States arsenal, with all its supplies and
arms. To his surprise, the negroes did not
come to his support, and the next day he
was attacked by the Virginia state militia,
wounded and captured. He was tried in
the courts of the state, convicted, and was
hanged at Charlestown, December 2, 1859.
The raid and its results had a tremendous
effect, and hastened the culmination of the
troubles between the north and south. The
south had the advantage in discussing this
event, claiming that the sentiment which
inspired this act of violence was shared by
the anti-slavery element of the country.
EDWIN BOOTH had no peer upon the
American stage during his long career
as a star actor. He was the son of a famous
actor, Junius Brutus Booth, and was born
in 1833 at his father's home at Belair, near
Baltimore. At the age of sixteen he made his
first appearance on the stage, at the Boston
Museum, in a minor part in "Richard III."
It was while playing in California in 1851
that an eminent critic called general atten-
tion to the young actor's unusual talent.
However, it was not until 1863, at the great
Shakspearian revival at the Winter Garden
Theatre, New York, that the brilliancy of
his career began. His Hamlet held the
boards for 100 nights in succession, and
from that time forth Booth's reputation was
established. In 1S68 he opened his own
theatre (Booth's Theater) in New York.
Mr. Booth never succeeded as a manager,
however, but as an actor he was undoubted-
ly the most popular man on the American
stage, and perhaps the most eminent one in
the world. In England he also won the
greatest applause.
Mr. Booth's work was confined mostly
to Shakspearean roles, and his art was
characterized by intellectual acuteness,
fervor, and poetic feeling. His Hamlet,
Richard II, Richard III, and Richelieu gave
play to his greatest powers. In 1865,
when his brother, John Wilkes Booth,
enacted his great crime, Edwin Booth re-
solved to retire from the stage, but waspur-
suaded to reconsider that decision. The
odium did not in any way attach to the
52
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY.
great actor, and his popularity was not
affected. In all his work Mr. Booth clung
closely to the legitimate and the traditional
in drama, making no experiments, and offer-
ing little encouragement to new dramatic
authors. His death occurred in New York,
June 7, 1894.
JOSEPH HOOKER, a noted American
officer, was born at Hadley, Massachu-
setts, November 13, 18 14. He graduated
from West Point Military Academy in 1837,
and was appointed lieutenant of artillery.
He served in Florida in the Seminole war,
and in garrison until the outbreak of the
Mexican war. During the latter he saw
service as a staff officer and was breveted
captain, major and lieutenant-colonel for
gallantry at Monterey, National Bridge and
Chapultepec. Resigning his commission in
1833 he took up farming in California, which
he followed until 1861. During this time
he acted as superintendent of military roads
in Oregon. At the outbreak of the Rebel-
lion Hooker tendered his services to the
government, and, May 17, 1861, was ap-
pointed brigadier-general of volunteers. He
served in the defence of Washington and on
the lower Potomac until his appointment to
the command of a division in the Third
Corps, in March, 1862. For gallant con-
duct at the siege of Yorktown and in the
battles of Williamsburg, Fair Oaks, Fra-
zier's Farm and Malvern Hill he was made
major-general. At the head of his division
he participated in the battles of Manassas
and Chantilly. September 6, 1862, he was
placed at the head of the First Corps, and
in the battles of South Mountain and An-
tietam acted with his usual gallantry, being
wounded in the latter engagement. On re-
joining the army in November he was made
brigadier-general in the regular army. On
General Burnside attaining the command of
the Army of the Potomac General Hooker
was placed in command of the center grand
division, consisting of the Second and Fifth
Corps. At the head of these gallant men
he participated in the battle of Fred-
ericksburg, December 13, 1862. In Janu-
ary, 1863, General Hooker assumed com-
mand of the Army of the Potomac, and in
May following fought the battle of Chan-
cellorsville. At the time of the invasion of
Pennsylvania, owing to a dispute with Gen-
eral Halleck, Hooker requested to be re-
lieved of his command, and June 28 was
succeeded by George G. Meade. In Sep-
tember, 1863, General Hooker was given
command of the Twentieth Corps and trans-
ferred to the Army of the Cumberland, and
distinguished himself at the battles of Look-
out Mountain, Missionary Ridge, and Ring-
gold. In the Atlanta campaign he saw
almost daily service and merited his well-
known nickname of " Fighting Joe." July
30, 1S64, at his own request, he was re-
lieved of his command. He subsequently
was in command of several military depart-
ments in the north, and in October, 1868,
was retired with the full rank of major-gen-
eral. He died October 31, 1879.
JAY GQULD, one of the greatest finan-
ciers that the world has ever produced,
was born May 27, 1836, at Roxbury, Dela-
ware county, New York. He spent his early
years on his father's farm and at the age of
fourteen entered Hobart Academy, New
York, and kept books for the village black-
smith. He acquired a taste for mathematics
and surveying and on leaving school found
employment in making the surveyor's map
of Ulster county. He surveyed very exten-
sively in the state and accumulated five thou-
sand dollars as the fruits of his labor. He
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY.
was then stricken with typhoid fever but re-
covered and made the acquaintance of one
Zadock Pratt, who sent him into the west-
ern part of the state to locate a site for a
tannery. He chose a fine hemlock grove,
built a sawmill and blacksmith shop and
was soon doing a large lumber business with
Mr. Pratt. Mr. Gould soon secured control
of the entire plant, which he sold out just
before the panic of 1857 and in this year he
became the largest stockholderintheStrouds-
burg, Pennsylvania, bank. Shortly after the
crisis he bought the bonds of the Rutland
& Washington Railroad at ten cents on the
dollar, and put all his money into railroad
securities. For a long time he conducted
this road which he consolidated with the
Rensselaer & Saratoga Railroad. In 1859
he removed to New York and became a
heavy investor in Erie Railroad stocks, en-
tered that company and was president until
its reorganization in 1872. In December,
1880, Mr. Gould was in control of ten thou-
sand miles of railroad. In 1887 he pur-
chased the controlling interest in the St.
Louis & San Francisco Railroad Co., and
was a joint owner with the Atchison, Topeka
& Santa Fe Railroad Co. of the western
portion of the Southern Pacific line. Other
lines soon came under his control, aggregat-
ing thousand of miles, and he soon was rec-
ognized as one of the world's greatest rail-
road magnates. He continued to hold his
place as one of the master financiers of the
century until the time of his death which
occurred December 2, 1892.
THOMAS HART BENTON, a very
prominent United States senator and
statesman, was born at Hillsborough, North
Carolina, March 14, 1782. He removed to
Tennessee in early life, studied law, and be-
gan to practice at Nashville about 18 10.
During the war of 1812-1815 he served as
colonel of a Tennessee regiment under Gen-
eral Andrew Jackson. In 181 5 he removed
to St. Louis, Missouri, and in 1820 was
chosen United States senator for that state.
Having been re-elected in 1826, he sup-
ported President Jackson in his opposition
to the United States bank and advocated a
gold and silver currency, thus gaining the
name of " Old Bullion," by which he was
familiarly known. For many years he was
the most prominent man in Missouri, and
took rank among the greatest statesmen of
his day. He was a member of the senate
for thirty years and opposed the extreme
states' rights policy of John C. Calhoun.
In 1852 he was elected to the house of rep-
resentatives in which he opposed the repeal
of the Missouri compromise. He was op-
posed by a powerful party of States' Rights
Democrats in Missouri, who defeated him as a
candidate for governor of that state in 1856.
Colonel Benton published a considerable
work in two volumes in 1854-56, entitled
" Thirty Years' View, or a History of the
Working of the American Government for
Thirty Years, 1S20-50." He died April 10,
1S58.
STEPHEN ARNOLD DOUGLAS.— One
of the most prominent figures in politic-
al circles during the intensely exciting days
that preceded the war, and a leader of the
Union branch of the Democratic party was
the gentleman whose name heads this
sketch.
He was born at Brandon, Rutland coun-
ty, Vermont, April 23, 18 13, of poor but
respectable parentage. His father, a prac-
ticing physician, died while our subject was
but an infant, and his mother, with two
small children and but small means, could
give him but the rudiments of an education.
<34
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY
At the age of fifteen young Douglas engaged
at work in the cabinet making business to
raise funds to carry him through college.
After a few years of labor he was enabled to
pursue an academical course, first at Bran-
don, and later at Canandaigua, New York.
In the latter place he remained until 1S33,
taking up the study of law. Before he was
twenty, however, his funds running low, he
abandoned all further attempts at educa-
tion, determining to enter at once the battle
of life. After some wanderings through the
western states he took up his residence at
Jacksonville, Illinois, where, after teaching
school for three months, he was admitted to
the bar, and opened an office in 1834.
Within a year from that time, so rapidly had
he risen in his profession, he was chosen
attorney general of the state, and warmly
espoused the principles of the Democratic
party. He soon became one of the most
popular orators in Illinois. It was at this
time he gained the name of the "Little
Giant." In 1835 he resigned the position
of attorney general having been elected to
the legislature. In 1S41 he was chosen
judge of the supreme court of Illinois which
he resigned two years later to take a seat in
congress. It was during this period of his
life, while a member of the lower house,
that he established his reputation and took
the side of those who contended that con-
gress had no constitutional right to restrict
the extension of slavery further than the
agreement between the states made in 1820.
This, in spite of his being opposed to slav-
ery, and only on grounds which he believed
to be right, favored what was called the
Missouri compromise. In 1847 Mr. Doug-
las was chosen United States senator for
six years, and greatly distinguished himself.
In 1S52 he was re-elected to the same office.
During this latter term, under his leader-
ship, the " Kansas-Nebraska bill " was car-
ried in the senate. In 185S, nothwith-
standing the fierce contest made by his able
competitor for the position, Abraham Lin-
coln, and with the administration of Bu-
chanan arrayed against him, Mr. Douglas
was re-elected senator. After the trouble
in the Charleston convention, when by the
withdrawal of several state delegates with-
out a nomination, the Union Democrats,
in convention at Baltimore, in 1S60, nomi-
nated Mr. Douglas as their candidate for
presidency. The results of this election are
well known and the great events of 1S61
coming oh, Mr. Douglas was spared their
full development, dying at Chicago, Illinois,
June 3, 1 86 1, after a short illness. His
last words to his children were, "to obey
the laws and support the constitution of the
United States."
JAMES MONROE, fifth president of the
United States, was born in Westmore-
land county, Virginia, April 28, 1758. At
the age of sixteen he entered William and
Mary College, but two years later the
Declaration of Independence having been
adopted, he left college and hastened to New
York where he joined Washington's army as
a military cadet.
At the battle of Trenton Monroe per-
formed gallant service and received a wound
in the shoulder, and was promoted to a
captaincy. He acted as aide to Lord Ster-
ling at the battles of Brandywine, German-
town and Monmouth. Washington then
sent him to Virginia to raise a new regiment
of which he was to be colonel. The ex-
hausted condition of Virginia made this im-
possible, but he received his commission.
He next entered the law office of Thomas
Jefferson to study law. as there was no open-
ing for him as an officer in the army. In
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY.
55
1782 he was elected to the Virginia assem-
bly, and the next year he was elected to the
Continental congress. Realizing the inade-
quacy of the old articles of confederation,
he advocated the calling of a convention to
consider their revision, and introduced in
congress a resolution empowering congress
to regulate trade, lay import duties, etc.
This resolution was referred to a committee,
of which he was chairman, and the report
led to the Annapolis convention, which
called a general convention to meet at Phila-
delphia in 17S7, when the constitution was
drafted. Mr. Monroe began the practice of
law at Fredericksburg, Virginia, and was
soon after elected to the legislature, and ap-
pointed as one of the committee to pass
upon the adoption of the constitution. He
opposed it, as giving too much power to the
central government. He was elected to the
United States senate in 1789, where he
allied himself with the Anti-Federalists or
"Republicans," as they were sometimes
called. Although his views as to neutrality
between France and England were directly
opposed to those of the president, yet Wash-
ington appointed him minister to France.
His popularity in France was so great that
the antagonism of England and her friends
in this country brought about his recall. He
then became governor of Virginia. He was
sent as envoy to France in 1802; minister
to England in 1803; and envoy to Spain in
1805. The next year he returned to his
estate in Virginia, and with an ample in-
heritance enjoyed a few years of repose. He
was again called to be governor of Virginia,
and was then appointed secretary of state
by President Madison. The war with Eng-
land soon resulted, and when the capital
was burned by the British, Mr. Monroe be-
came secretary of war also, and planned the
measures for the defense of New Orleans.
The treasury being exhausted and credit
gone, he pledged his own estate, and thereby-
made possible the victory of Jackson at New
Orleans.
In 1817 Mr. Monroe became president
of the United States, having been a candi-
date of the "Republican" part}', which at
that time had begun to be called the ' ' Demo-
cratic" party. In 1 S20 he was re-elected,
having two hundred and thirty-one electoral
votes out of two hundred and thirty-two.
His administration is known as the "Era of
good-feeling, " and party lines were almost
wiped out. The slavery question began to
assume importance at this time, and the
Missouri Compromise was passed. The
famous "Monroe Doctrine" originated in a
great state paper of President Monroe upon
the rumored interference of the Holy Alli-
ance to prevent the formation of free repub-
lics in South America. President Monroe
acknowledged their independence, and pro-
mulgated his great "Doctrine," which has
been held in reverence since. Mr. Monroe's
death occurred in New York on July 4, 1831.
THOMAS ALVA EDISON, the master
wizard of electrical science and whose
name is synonymous with the subjugation
of electricity to the service of man, was
born in 1847 a t Milan, Ohio, and it was at
Port Huron, Michigan, whither his parents
had moved in 1854, that his self-education
began — for he never attended school for
more than two months. He eagerly de-
voured every book he could lay his hands on
and is said to have read through an encyclo-
pedia without missing a word. At thirteen he
began his working life as a trainboy upon the
Grand Trunk Railway between Port Huron
and Detroit. Much of his time was now
spent in Detroit, where he found increased
facilities for reading at the public libraries.
56
COMPENDIUM OP BIOGRAPHY.
He was not content to be a newsboy, so he
got together three hundred pounds of type
and started the issue of the " Grand Trunk
Herald." It was only a small amateur
weekly, printed on one side, the impression
being made from the type by hand. Chemi-
cal research was his next undertaking and
a laboratory was added to his movable pub-
lishing house, which, by the way, was an
old freight car. One day, however, as he
Was experimenting with some phosphorus,
it ignited and the irate conductor threw the
young seeker after the truth, chemicals and
all, from the train. His office and laboratory
Were then removed to the cellar of his fa-
ther's house. As he grew to manhood he
decided to become an operator. He won
his opportunity by saving the life of a child,
Whose father was an old operator, and out of
gratitude he gave Mr. Edison lessons in teleg-
raphy. Five months later he was compe-
tent to fill a position in the railroad office
at Port Huron. Hence he peregrinated to
Stratford, Ontario, and thence successively
to Adrian, Fort Wayne, Indianapolis, Cin-
cinnati, Memphis, Louisville and Boston,
gradually becoming an expert operator and
gaining experience that enabled him to
evolve many ingenious ideas for the im-
provement of telegraphic appliances. At
Memphis he constructed an automatic re-
peater, which enabled Louisville and New
Orleans to communicate direct, and received
nothing more than the thanks of his em-
ployers. Mr. Edison came to New York in
1870 in search of an opening more suitable
to his capabilities and ambitions. He hap-
pened to be in the office of the Laws Gold
Reporting Company when one of the in-
struments got out of order, and even the
inventor of the system could not make it
work. Edison requested to be allowed to
attempt the task, and in a few minutes he
had overcome the difficulty and secured an
advantageous engagement. For several
years he had a contract with the Western
Union and the Gold Stock companies,
whereby he received a large salary, besides
a special price for all telegraphic improve-
ments he could suggest. Later, as the
head of the Edison General Electric com-
pany, with its numerous subordinate organ-
izations and connections all over the civil-
ized world, he became several times a
millionaire. Mr. Edison invented the pho-
nograph and kinetograph which bear his
name, the carbon telephone, the tasimeter,
and the duplex and quadruplex systems of
telegraphy.
JAMES LONGSTREET, one of the most
conspicuous of the Confederate generals
during the Civil war, was born in 1820, in
South Carolina, but was early taken by his
parents to Alabama where he grew to man-
hood and received his early education. He
graduated at the United States military
academy in 1842, entering the army as
lieutenant and spent a few years in the fron-
tier service. When the Mexican war broke
out he was called to the front and partici-
pated in all the principal battles of that war
up to the storming of Chapultepec, where
he received severe wounds. For gallant
conduct at Contreras, Cherubusco, and Mo-
lino del Rey he received the brevets of cap-
tain and major. After the close of the
Mexican war Longstreet served as adjutant
and captain on frontier service in Texas un-
til 1858 when he was transferred to the staff,
as paymaster with rank of major. In June,
1 86 1, he resigned to join the Confederacy
and immediately went to the front, com-
manding a brigade at Bull Run the follow-
ing month. Promoted to be major-general
in 1862 he thereafter bore a conspicuous
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHV.
57
part and rendered valuable service to the
Confederate cause. He participated in
many of the most severe battles of the Civil
war including Bull Run (first and second),
Seven Pines, Gainer' Mill, Fraziers Farm,
Malvern Hill, Antietam, Frederickburg,
Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Chickamauga,
the Wilderness, Petersburg and most of the
fighting about Richmond.
When the war closed General Long-
street accepted the result, renewed his alle-
giance to the government, and thereafter
labored earnestly to obliterate all traces of
war and promote an era of good feeling be-
tween all sections of the country. He took
up his residence in New Orleans, and took
an active interest and prominent part in
public affairs, served as surveyor of that
port for several years; was commissioner of
engineers for Louisiana, served four years
as school commissioner, etc. In 1875 he
was appointed supervisor of internal revenue
and settled in Georgia. After that time he
served four years as United States minister
to Turkey, and also for a number of years
was United States marshal of Georgia, be-
sides having held other important official
positions.
JOHN RUTLEDGE, the second chief-
justice of the United States, was born
at Charleston, South Carolina, in 1739.
He was a son of John Rutledge, who had
left Ireland for America about five years
prior to the birth of our subject, and .a
brother of Edward Rutledge, a signer of the
Declaration of Independence. John Rut-
ledge received his legal edocation at the
Temple, London, after which he returned
to Charleston and soon won distinction at
the bar. He was elected to the old Colonial
congress in 1765 to protest against the
" Stamp Act," and was a member of the
South Carolina convention of 1774, and of
the Continental congress of that and the
succeeding year. In 1776 he was chairman
of the committee that draughted the con-
stitution of his state, and was president of
the congress of that state. He was not
pleased with the state constitution, how-
ever, and resigned. In 1779 he was again
chosen governor of the state, and granted
extraordinary powers, and he at once took
the field to repel the British. He joined
the army of General Gates in 1782, and the
same year was elected to congress. He
was a member of the constitutional con-
vention which framed our present constitu-
tion. In 1789 he was appointed an associate
justice of the first supreme court of the
United States. He resigned to accept the
position of chief- justice of his own state.
Upon the resignation of Judge Jay : he was
appointed chief-justice of the United States
in 1795. The appointment was never con-
firmed, for, after presiding at one session,
his mind became deranged, and he was suc-
ceeded by Judge Ellsworth. He died at
Charleston, July 23, 1800.
RALPH WALDO EMERSON was one
of the most noted literary men of his
time. He was born in Boston, Massachu-
setts, May 25, 1803. He had a minister for
an ancestor, either on the paternal or ma-
ternal side, in every generation for eight
generations back. His father, Rev. Will-
iam Emerson, was a native of Concord,
Massachusetts, born May 6, 1769, graduated
at Harvard, in 1789, became a Unitarian
minister; was a fine writer and one of the
best orators of his day; died in 181 1.
Ralph Waldo Emerson was fitted for
college at the public schools of Boston, and
graduated at Harvard College in 1 82 1, win-
ning about this time several prizes for es-
58
COMTEXDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY.
says. For five years he taught school in
Boston; in 1826 was licensed to preach, and
in 1829 was ordained as a colleague to Rev.
Henry Ware of the Second Unitarian church
in Boston. In 1832 he resigned, making
the announcement in a sermon of his un-
willingness longer to administer the rite of
she Lord's Supper, after which he spent
about a year in Europe. Upon his return
he began his career as a lecturer before the
Boston Mechanics Institute, his subject be-
ing "Water." His early lectures on " Italy"
and "Relation of Man to the Globe" also
attracted considerable attention; as did also
his biographical lectures on Michael Angelo,
Milton, Luther, George Fox, and Edmund
Burke. After that time he gave many
courses of lectures in Boston and became
one of the best known lecturers in America.
But very few men have rendered such con-
tinued service in this field. He lectured for
forty successive seasons before the Salem,
Massachusetts, Lyceum and also made re-
peated lecturing tours in this country and in
England. In 1835 Mr. Emerson took up
his residence at Concord, Massachusetts,
where he continued to make his home until
his death which occurred April 27, 1882.
Mr. Emerson's literary work covered a
wide scope. He wrote and published many
works, essays and poems, which rank high
among the works of American literary men.
A few of the many which he produced are
the following: "Nature;" "The Method
of Nature;" " Man Thinking;" "The Dial;"
"Essays;" ."Poems;" "English Traits;"
"The Conduct of Life;" "May-Day and
other Poems " and " Society and Solitude;"
besides many others. He was a prominent
member of the American Academy of Arts
and Sciences, of the American Philosophical
Society, the Massachusetts Historical Society
and other kindred associations.
ALEXANDER T. STEWART, one of
the famous merchant princes of New
York, was born near the city of Belfast, Ire-
land, in 1803, and before he was eight years
of age was left an orphan without any near
relatives, save an aged grandfather. The
grandfather being a pious Methodist wanted
to make a minister of young Stewart, and
accordingly put him in a school with that
end in view and he graduated at Trinity Col-
lege, in Dublin. When scarcely twenty
years of age he came to New York. His
first employment was that of a teacher, but
accident soon made him a merchant. En-
tering into business relations with an ex-
perienced man of his acquaintance he soon
found himself with the rent of a store on
his hands and alone in a new enterprise.
Mr. Stewart's business grew rapidly in all
directions, but its founder had executive
ability sufficient for any and all emergencies,
and in time his house became one of the
greatest mercantile establishments of mod-
ern times, and the name of Stewart famous.
Mr. Stewart's death occurred April 10,
1S76.
JAMES FENIMORE COOPER. — In
speaking of this noted American nov-
elist, William Cullen Bryant said: " He
wrote for mankind at large, hence it is that
he has earned a fame wider than any Amer-
ican author of modern times. The crea-
tions of his genius shall survive through
centuries to come, and only perish with our
language." Another eminent writer (Pres-
cott) said of Cooper: " In his productions
every American must take an honest pride;
for surely no one has succeeded like Cooper
in the portraiture of American character, or
has given such glowing and eminently truth-
ful pictures of American scenery."
James Fenimore Cooper was born Sep-
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAnil'.
59
tember 15, 1789, at Burlington, New Jer-
sey, and was a son of Judge William Cooper.
About a year after the birth of our subject
the family removed to Otsego county, New
York, and founded the town called " Coop-
erstown." James Fenimore Cooper spent
his childhood there and in 1802 entered
Yale College, and four years later became a
midshipman in the United States navy. In
181 1 he was married, quit the seafaring life,
and began devoting more or less time to lit-
erary pursuits. His first work was " Pre-
caution," a novel published in 1819, and
three years later he produced "The Spy, a
Tale of Neutral Ground," which met with
great favor and was a universal success.
This was followed by many other works,
among which may be mentioned the follow-
ing: " The Pioneers," "The Pilot," " Last
of the Mohicans," "The Prairie," "The
Red Rover," "The Manikins," "Home-
ward Bound," " Home as Found," " History
of the United States Navy," "The Path-
finder," "Wing and Wing," "Afloat and
Ashore," "The Chain-Bearer," "Oak-
Openings," etc. J. Fenimore Cooper died
at Cooperstown, New York, September 14,
1851.
MARSHALL FIELD, one of the mer-
chant princes of America, ranks among
the most successful business men of the cen-
tury. He was born in 1835 at Conway,
Massachusetts. He spent his early life on
a farm and secured a fair education in the
common schools, supplementing this with a
course at the Conway Academy. His
natural bent ran in the channels of commer-
cial life, and at the age of seventeen he was
given a position in a store at Pittsfield,
Massachusetts. Mr. Field remained there
four years and removed to Chicago in 1856.
He began his career in Chicago as a clerk
in the wholesale dry goods house of Cooley,
Wadsworth & Company, which later be-
came Cooley, Farwell & Company, and still
later John V. Farwell & Company. He
remained with them four years and exhibit-
ed marked ability, in recognition of which
he was given a partnership. In 1865 Mr.
Field and L. Z. Leiter, who was also a
member of the firm, withdrew and formed
the firm of Field, Palmer & Leiter, the
third partner being Potter Palmer, and they
continued in business until 1867, when Mr.
Palmer retired and the firm became Field,
Leiter & Company. They ran under the
latter name until 1881, when Mr. Leiter re-
tired and the house has since continued un-
der the name of Marshall Field & Company.
The phenomenal success accredited to the
house is largely due to the marked ability
of Mr. Field, the house had become one of
the foremost in the west, with an annual
sale of $8,000,000 in 1870. The total loss
of the firm during the Chicago fire was
$3,500,000 of which $2,500,000 was re-
covered through the insurance companies.
It rapidly recovered from the effects of this
and to-day the annual sales amount to over
$40,000,000. Mr. Field's real estate hold-
ings amounted to $10,000,000. He was
one of the heaviest subscribers to the Bap-
tist University fund although he is a Presby-
terian, and gave $1,000,000 for the endow-
ment of the Field Columbian Museum —
one of the greatest institutions of the kind
in the world.
EDGAR WILSON NYE, who won an im-
mense popularity under the pen name
of " Bill Nye," was one of the most eccen-
tric humorists of his day. He was born Au-
gust 25, 1850, at Shirley, Piscataqua coun-
ty, Maine, "at a very early age" as he ex-
presses it. He took an academic course in
GO
COMTEXDIUM OF BIOGRAPI/V
River Falls, Wisconsin, from whence, after
his graduation, he removed to Wyoming
Territory. He studied law and was ad-
mitted to the bar in 1876. He began when
quite young to contribute humorous sketches
to the newspapers, became connected with
various western journals and achieved a
brilliant success as a humorist. Mr. Nye
settled later in New York City where he
devoted his time to writing funny articles for
the big newspaper syndicates. He wrote for
publication in book form the following :
"Bill Nye and the Boomerang," "The
Forty Liars," "Baled Hay," " Bill Nye's
Blossom Rock," "Remarks," etc. His
death occurred February 21, 1896, at Ashe-
ville, North Carolina.
THOMAS DE WITT TALMAGE, one of
the most celebrated American preach-
ers, was born January 7, 1S32, and was the
youngest of twelve children. He made his
preliminary studies at the grammar school
in New Brunswick, New Jersey. At the age
of eighteen he joined the church and entered
the University of the City of New York, and
graduated in May, 1853. The exercises
were held in Niblo's Garden and his speech
aroused the audience to a high pitch of en-
thusiasm. At the close of his college duties
he imagined himself interested in the law
and for three years studied law. Dr. Tal-
mage then perceived his mistake and pre-
pared himself for the ministry at the
Reformed Dutch Church Theological Semi-
nary at New Brunswick, New Jersey. Just
after his ordination the young minister re-
ceived two calls, one from Piermont, New
York, and the other from Belleville, New
Jersey. Dr. Talmage accepted the latter
and for three years filled that charge, when
he was called to Syracuse, New York. Here
it was that his sermons first drew large
crowds of people to his church, and from
thence dates his popularity. Afterward he
became the pastor of the Second Reformed
Dutch church, of Philadelphia, remaining
seven years, during which period he first
entered upon the lecture platform and laid
the foundation for his future reputation. At
the end of this time he received three calls,
one from Chicago, one from San Francisco,
and one from the Central Presbyterian
church of Brooklyn, which latter at that
time consisted of only nineteen members
with a congregation of about thirty-five.
This church offered him a salary of seven
thousand dollars and he accepted the call.
He soon induced the trustees to sell the old
church and build a new one. They did so
and erected the Brooklyn Tabernacle, but
it burned down shortly after it was finished.
By prompt sympathy and general liberality
a new church was built and formally opened
in February, 1874. It contained seats for
four thousand, six hundred and fifty, but if
necessary seven thousand could be accom-
modated. In October, 1878, his salary was
raised from seven thousand dollars to twelve
thousand dollars, and in the autumn of 18S9
the second tabernacle was destroyed by fire.
A third tabernacle was built and it was for-
mally dedicated on Easter Sunday, 1891.
JOHN PHILIP SOUSA, conceded as
being one of the greatest band leaders
in the world, won his fame while leader of
the United States Marine Band at Washing-
ton, District of Columbia. He was not
originally a band player but was a violinist,
and at the age of seventeen he was conduc-
tor of an opera company, a profession which
he followed for several years, until he was
offered the leadership of the Marine Band
at Washington. The proposition was re-
pugnant to him at first but he accepted the
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHV.
61
offer and then ensued ten years of brilliant
success with that organization. When he
first took the Marine Band he began to
gather the national airs of all the nations
that have representatives in Washington,
and compiled a comprehensive volume in-
cluding nearly all the national songs of the
different nations. He composed a number
of marches, waltzes and two-steps, promi-
nent among which are the "Washington
Post," "Directorate," "King Cotton,"
"High School Cadets," "Belle of Chica-
go," "Liberty Bell March," "Manhattan
Beach," "On Parade March," "Thunderer
March," "Gladiator March," " El Capitan
March," etc. He became a very extensive
composer of this class of music.
JOHN QUINCY ADAMS, sixth president
of the United States, was born in
Braintree, Massachusetts, July II, 1767,
the son of John Adams. At the age of
eleven he was sent to school at Paris, and
two years later to Leyden, where he entered
that great university. He returned to the
United States in 1785, and graduated from
Harvard in 1788. He then studied law,
and was admitted to the bar in 1 791. His
practice brought no income the first two
years, but he won distinction in literary
fields, and was appointed minister to The
Hague in 1794. He married in 1797, and
went as minister to Berlin the same year,
serving until 1801, when Jefferson became
president. He was elected to the senate in
1803 by the Federalists, but was condemned
by that party for advocating the Embargo
Act and other Anti-Federalist measures. He
was appointed as professor of rhetoric at
Harvard in 1805, and in 1809 was sent as
minister to Russia. He assisted in negotiat-
ing the treaty of peace with England in
.1814, and became minister to that power
the next year. He served during Monroe's
administration two terms as secretary of
state, during which time party lines were
obliterated, and in 1824 four candidates for
president appeared, all of whom were iden-
tified to some extent with the new " Demo-
cratic" party. Mr. Adams received 84 elec-
toral votes, Jackson 99, Crawford 41, and
Clay 37. As no candidate had a majority
of all votes, the election went to the house
of representatives, which elected Mr. Adams.
As Clay had thrown his influence to Mr.
Adams, Clay became secretary of state, and
this caused bitter feeling on the part of the
Jackson Democrats, who were joined by
Mr. Crawford and his following, and op-
posed every measure of the administration.
In the election of 1S28 Jackson was elected
over Mr. Adams by a great majority.
Mr. Adams entered the lower house of
congress in 1830, elected from the district
in which he was born and continued to rep-
resent it for seventeen years. He was
known as " the old man eloquent," and his
work in congress was independent of party.
He opposed slavery extension and insisted
upon presenting to congress, one at a time,
the hundreds of petitions against the slave
power. One of these petitions, presented in
1842, was signed by forty-five citizens of
Massachusetts, and prayed congress for a
peaceful dissolution of the Union. His
enemies seized upon this as an opportunity
to crush their powerful foe, and in a caucus
meeting determined upon his expulsion from
congress. Finding they would not be able
to command enough votes for this, they de-
cided upon a course that would bring equal
disgrace. They formulated a resolution to
the effect that while he merited expulsion,
the house would, in great mercy, substitute
its severest censure. When it was read in the
house the old man, then in his seventy-fifth
62
COMPEXDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY.
year, arose and demanded that the first para-
graph of the Declaration of Independence
be read as his defense. It embraced the
famous sentence, " that whenever any form
of government becomes destructive to those
ends, it is the right of the people to alter or
abolish it, and to institute new government,
etc., etc." After eleven days of hard fight-
ing his opponents were defeated. On Febru-
ary 21, 1S48, he rose to address the speaker
on the Oregon question, when he suddenly
fell from a stroke of paralysis. He died
soon after in the rotunda of the capitol,
where he had been conveyed by his col-
leagues.
SUSAN B. ANTHONY was one of the
most famous women of America. She
was born at South Adams, Massachusetts,
February 15, 1820, the daughter of a
Quaker. She received a good education
and became a school teacher, following that
profession for fifteen years in New York.
Beginning with about 1852 she became the
active leader of the woman's rights move-
ment and won a wide reputation for her
zeal and ability. She also distinguished
herself for her zeal and eloquence in the
temperance and anti-slavery causes, and
became a conspicuous figure during the war.
After the close of the war she gave most of
her labors to the cause of woman's suffrage.
PHILIP D. ARMOUR, one of the most
conspicuous figures in the mercantile
history of America, was born May 16, 1S32,
on a farm at Stockbridge, Madison county,
New York, and received his early education
in the common schools of that county. He
was apprenticed to a farmer and worked
faithfully and well, being very ambitious and
desiring to start out for himself. At the
age of twenty he secured a release from his
indentures and set out overland for the
gold fields of California. After a great
deal of hard work he accumulated a little
money and then came east and settled
in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He went into
the grain receiving and warehouse busi-
ness and was fairly successful, and later on
he formed a partnership with John Plankin-
ton in the pork packing line, the style of the
firm being Plankinton & Armour. Mr. Ar-
mour made his first great "deal" in selling
pork "short" on the New York market in
the anticipation of the fall of the Confed-
eracy, and Mr. Armour is said to have made
through this deal a million dollars. He then
established packing houses in Chicago and
Kansas City, and in 1875 he removed to
Chicago. He increased his business by add-
ing to it the shipment of dressed beef to
the European markets, and many other lines
of trade and manufacturing, and it rapidly
assumed vast proportions, employing an
army of men in different lines of the busi-
ness. Mr. Armour successfully conducted a
great many speculative deals in pork and
grain of immense proportions and also erected
many large warehouses for the storage of
grain. He became one of the representative
business men of Chicago, where he became
closely identified with all enterprises of a
public nature, but his fame as a great busi-
ness man extended to all parts of the world.
He founded the "Armour Institute " at Chi-
cago and also contributed largely to benevo-
lent and charitable institutions.
ROBERT FULTON.— Although Fulton
is best known as the inventor of the
first successful steamboat, yet his claims to-
distinction do not rest alone upon that, for
he was an inventor along other lines, a
painter and an author. He was born at
Little Britain, Lancaster county, Pennsyl-
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY.
65
vania, in 1765, of Scotch-Irish ancestry.
At the age of seventeen he removed to Phila-
delphia, and there and in New York en-
gaged in miniature painting with success
both from a pecuniary and artistic point of
view. With the results of his labors he pur-
chased a farm for the support of his mother.
He went to London and studied under the
great painter, Benjamin West, and all
through life retained his fondness for art
and gave evidence of much ability in that
line. While in England he was brought in
contact with the Duke of Bridgewater, the
father of the English canal system; Lord
Stanhope, an eminent mechanician, and
James Watt, the inventor of the steam en-
gine. Their influence turned his mind to its
true field of labor, that of mechanical in-
vention. Machines for flax spinning,
marble sawing, rope making, and for remov-
ing earth from excavations, are among his
earliest ventures. His "Treatise on the
Improvement of Canal Navigation," issued
in 1 796, and a series of essays on canals
were soon followed by an English patent
for canal improvements. In 1797 he went
to Paris, where he resided until 1806, and
there invented a submarine torpedo boat for
maritime defense, but which was rejected
by the governments of France, England and
the United States. In 1 803 he offered to con-
struct for the Emperor Napoleon a steam-
boat that would assist in carrying out the
plan of invading Great Britain then medi-
tated by that great captain. In pursuance
he constructed his first steamboat on the
Seine, but it did not prove a full success
and the idea was abandoned by the French
government. By the aid of Livingston,
then United States minister to France,
Fulton purchased, in 1806, an engine which
he brought to this country. After studying
the defects of his own and other attempts in
this line he built and launched in 1807 the
Clermont, the first successful steamboat.
This craft only attained a speed of five
miles an hour while going up North river.
His first patent not fully covering his in-
vention, Fulton was engaged in many law
suits for infringement. He constructed
many steamboats, ferryboats, etc., among
these being the United States steamer
"Fulton the First," built in 1814, the first
war steamer ever built. This craft never
attained any great speed owing to some de-
fects in construction and accidentally blew
up in 1S29. Fulton died in New York, Feb-
ruary 21, l8l 5.
SALMON PORTLAND CHASE, sixth
chief-justice of the United States, and
one of the most eminent of American jurists,
was born in Cornish, New Hampshire, Jan-
uary 13, 1S08. At the age of nine he was
left in poverty by the death of his father,
but means were found to educate him. He
was sent to his uncle, a bishop, who con-
ducted an academy near Columbus, Ohio,
and here young Chase worked on the farm
and attended school. At the age of fifteen
he returned to his native state and entered
Dartmouth College, from which he gradu-
ated in 1 S26. He then went to Washington,
and engaged in teaching school, and study-
ing law under the instruction of William
Wirt. He was licensed to practice in 1S29,
and went to Cincinnati, where he had a
hard struggle for several years following.
He had in the meantime prepared notes on
the statutes of Ohio, which, when published,
brought him into prominence locally. He
was soon after appointed solicitor of the
United States Bank. In 1837 he appeared
as counsel for a fugitive slave woman, Ma-
tilda, and sought by all the powers of his
learning and eloquence to prevent her owner
66
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY
from reclaiming her. He acted in many
other cases, and devolved the trite expres-
sion, "Slavery is sectional, freedom is na-
tional." He was employed to defend Van
Zandt before the supreme court of the United
States in 1846, which was one of the most
noted cases connected with the great strug-
gle against slavery. By this time Mr. Chase
had become the recognized leader of that
element known as " free-soilers." He was
elected to the United States senate in 1849,
and was chosen governor of Ohio in 1855
and re-elected in 1857. He was chosen to
the United States senate from Ohio in 1861,
but was made secretary of the treasury by
Lincoln and accepted. He inaugurated a
financial system to replenish the exhausted
treasury and meet the demands of the great-
est war in history and at the same time to
revive the industries of the country. One
of the measures which afterward called for
his judicial attention was the issuance of
currency notes which were made a legal
tender in payment of debts. When this
question came before him as chief-justice
of the United States he reversed his former
action and declared the measure unconstitu-
tional. The national banking system, by
which all notes issued were to be based on
funded government bonds of equal or greater
amounts, had its direct origin with Mr. Chase.
Mr. Chase resigned the treasury port-
folio in 1864, and was appointed the same
year as chief-justice of the United States
supreme court. The great questions that
came up before him at this crisis in the life
of the nation were no less than those which
confronted the first chief-justice at the for-
mation of our government. Reconstruction,
private, state and national interests, the
constitutionality of the acts of congress
passed in times of great excitement, the
-construction and interpretation to be placed
upon the several amendments to the national
constitution, — these were among the vital
questions requiring prompt decision. He
received a paralytic stroke in 1870, which
impaired his health, thcugh his mental
powers were not affected. He continued to
preside at the opening terms for two years
following and died May 7, 1873.
HARRIET ELIZABETH BEECHER
STOWE, a celebrated American writ-
er, was born June 14, 1812, at Litchfield,
Connecticut. She was a daughter of Lyman
Beecherand a sister of Henry Ward Beecher,
two noted divines; was carefully educated,
and taught school for several years at Hart-
ford, Connecticut. In 1S32 Miss Beecher
married Professor Stowe, then of Lane Semi-
nary, Cincinnati, Ohio, and afterwards at
Bowdoin College and Andover Seminary.
Mrs. Stowe published in 1849 "The May-
flower, or sketches of the descendants of the
Pilgrims, " and in 185 1 commenced in the
" National Era "of Washington, a serial story
which was published separately in 1852 under
the title of " Uncle Tom's Cabin." This
book attained almost unparalleled success
both at home and abroad, and within ten years
it had been translated in almost every lan-
guage of the civilized world. Mrs. Stowe pub-
lished in 1S53 a "Key to Uncle Tom's Cabin"
in which the data that she used was published
and its truthfulness was corroborated. In
1853 she accompanied her husband and
brother to Europe, and on her return pub-
lished "Sunny Memories of Foreign Lands"
in 1854. Mrs. Stowe was for some time
one of the editors of the ' ' Atlantic Monthly "
and the " Hearth and Home," for which
she had written a number of articles.
Among these, also published separately, are
" Dred, a tale of the Great Dismal Swamp "
(later published under the title of "Nina
C0MPEND1CM OF BIOGRAPHY.
67
Gordon"); " The Minister's Wooing;" "The
Pearl of Orr's Island;" "Agnes of Sorrento;"
"Oldtovvn Folks;" "My Wife and I;" "Bible
Heroines," and "A Dog's Mission." Mrs.
Stowe's death occurred July i, 1896, at
Hartford, Connecticut.
THOMAS JONATHAN JACKSON, bet-
ter known as "Stonewall" Jackson,
was one of the most noted of the Confeder-
ate generals of the Civil war. He was a
soldier by nature, an incomparable lieuten-
ant, sure to execute any operation entrusted
to him with marvellous precision, judgment
and courage, and all his individual cam-
paigns and combats bore the stamp of a
masterly capacity for war. He was born
January 21, 1S24, at Clarksburg, Harrison
county, West Virginia. He was early in
life imbued with the desire to be a soldier
and it is said walked from the mountains of
Virginia to Washington, secured the aid of
his congressman, and was appointed cadet
at the United States Military Academy at
West Point from which he was graduated in
1846. Attached to the army as brevet sec-
ond lieutenant of the First Artillery, his first
service was as a subaltern with Magruder's
battery of light artillery in the Mexican war.
He participated at the reduction of Vera
Cruz, and was noticed for gallantry in the
battles of Cerro Gordo, Contreras, Moline
del Rey, Chapultepec, and the capture of
the city of Mexico, receiving the brevets of
captain for conduct at Contreras and Cher-
ubusco and of major at Chapultepec. In
the meantime he had been advanced by
r< gular promotion to be first lieutenant in
1S47. In 1852, the war having closed, he
resigned and became professor of natural
and experimental philosophy and artillery
instructor at the Virginia State Military
Institute at Lexington, Virginia, where he
remained until Virginia declared for seces-
sion, he becoming chiefly noted for intense
religious sentiment coupled with personal
eccentricities. Upon the breaking out of
the war he was made colonel and placed in
command of a force sent to sieze Harper's
Ferry, which he accomplished May 3, 1861.
Relieved by General J. E. Johnston, May
23, he took command of the brigade of
Valley Virginians, whom he moulded into
that brave corps, baptized at the first
Manassas, and ever after famous as the
"Stonewall Brigade." After this "Stone-
wall " Jackson was made a major-general,
in 1 86 1, and participated until his death in
all the famous campaigns about Richmond
and in Virginia, and was a conspicuous fig-
ure in the memorable battles of that time.
May 2, 18G3, at Chancellorsville, he was
wounded severely by his own troops, two
balls shattering his left arm and another
passing through the palm of his right hand.
The left arm was amputated, but pneumonia
intervened, and, weakened by the great loss
of blood, he died May 10, 1863. The more
his operations in the Shenandoah valley in
1862 are studied the more striking must the
merits of this great soldier appear..
JOHN GREENLEAF WHETHER.—
<J Near to the heart of the people of the
Anglo-Saxon race will ever lie the verses of
this, the "Quaker Poet." The author of
"Barclay of Ury," "Maud Muller" and
"Barbara Frietchie, " always pure, fervid
and direct, will be remembered when many
a more ambitious writer has been forgotten.
John G. Whittier was born at Haver-
hill, Massachusetts, December 7, 1S07, of
Quaker parentage. He had but a common-
school education and passed his boyhood
days upon a farm. In early life he learned
the trade of shoemaker. At the age of
G$
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY.
■eighteen he began to write verses for the
Haverhill '' Gazette." He spent two years
after that at the Haverhill academy, after
which, in 1829, he became editor of the
"American Manufacturer, " at Boston. In
1S30 he succeeded George D. Prentice as
editor of the "New England Weekly Re-
view," but the following year returned to
Haverhill and engaged in farming. In 1832
and in 1836 he edited the " Gazette." In
1835 he was elected a member of the legis-
lature, serving two years. In 1 836 he became
secretary of the Anti-slavery Society of Phil-
adelphia. In 1838 and 1839 he edited the
" Pennsylvania Freeman," but in the latter
year the office was sacked and burned by a
mob. In 1840 Whittier settled at Ames-
bury, Massachusetts. In 1847 he became
corresponding editor of the "National Era,"
an anti-slavery paper published at Washing-
ton, and contributed to its columns many of
his anti-slavery and other favorite lyrics.
Mr. Whittier lived for many years in retire-
ment of Quaker simplicity, publishing several
volumes of poetry which have raised him to
a high place among American authors and
brought to him the love and admiration of
his countrymen. In the electoral colleges
of i860 and 1864 Whittier was a member.
Much' of his time after 1876 was spent at
Oak Knoll, Danvers, Massachusetts, but
still retained his residence at Amesbury.
He never married. His death occurred Sep-
tember 7, 1892.
The more prominent prose writings of
John G. Whittier are as follows: "Legends
of New England," " Justice and Expediency,
or Slavery Considered with a View to Its Abo-
lition," " The Stranger in Lowell," "Super-
naturalism in New England," " Leaves from
Margaret Smith's Journal," "Old Portraits
and Modern Sketches" and "Literary
Sketches."
DAVID DIXON PORTER, illustrious as
admiral of the United States navy, and
famous as one of the most able naval offi-
cers of America, was born in Pennsylvania,
June 8, 1814. His father was also a naval
officer of distinction, who left the service of
the United States to become commander of
the naval forces of Mexico during the war
between that country and Spain, and
through this fact David Dixon Porter was
appointed a midshipman in the Mexican
navy. Two years later David D. Porter
joined the United States navy as midship-
man, rose in rank and eighteen years later
as a lieutenant he is found actively engaged
in all the operations of our navy along the
east coast of Mexico. When the Civil war
broke out Porter, then a commander, was
dispatched in the Powhattan to the relief of
Fort Pickens, Florida. This duty accom-
plished, he fitted out a mortar flotilla for
the reduction of the forts guarding the ap-
proaches to New Orleans, which it was con-
sidered of vital importance for the govern-
ment to get possession of. After the fall of
New Orleans the mortar flotilla was actively
engaged at Vicksburg, and in the fall of
1862 Porter was made a rear-admiral and
placed in command of all the naval forces
on the western rivers above New Orleans.
The ability of the man was now con-
spicuously manifested, not only in the bat-
tles in which he was engaged, but also in
the creation of a formidable fleet out of
river steamboats, which he covered with
such plating as they would bear. In 1864
he was transferred to the Atlantic coast to
command the naval forces destined to oper-
ate against the defences of Wilmington,
North Carolina, and on Jan. 15, 1865, the
fall of Fort Fisher was hailed by the country
as a glorious termination of his arduous war
service. In 1866 he was made vice-admiral
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY.
69
and appointed superintendent of the Naval
Academy. On the death of Farragut, in
1 870, .he succeeded that able man as ad-
miral of the navy. His death occurred at
Washington, February 13, 1891.
NATHANIEL GREENE was one of the
best known of the distinguished gen-
erals who led the Continental soldiery
against the hosts of Great Britain during
the Revolutionary war. He was the son
of Quaker parents, and was born at War-
wick, Rhode Island, May 27, 1742. In
youth he acquired a good education, chiefly
by his own efforts, as he was a tireless
reader. In 1770 he was elected a member
of the Assembly of his native state. The
news of the battle of Lexington stirred
his blood, and he offered his services to
the government of the colonies, receiving
the rank of brigadier-general and the com-
mand of the troops from Rhode Island.
He led them to the camp at Cambridge,
and for thus violating the tenets of their
faith, he was cast out of the Society of
Friends, or Quakers. He soon won the es-
teem of General Washington. In August,
1776, Congress promoted Greene to the
rank of major-general, and in the battles of
Trenton and Princeton he led a division.
At the battle of Brandywine, September 1 1,
1777, he greatly distinguished himself, pro-
"tecting the retreat of the Continentals by
his firm stand. At the battle of German-
town, October 4, the same year, he com-
manded the left wing of the army with
credit. In March, 1778, he reluctantly ac-
cepted the office of quartermaster-general,
but only with the understanding that his
rank in the army would not be affected and
that in action he should retain his command.
On the bloody field of Monmouth, June 28,
J 778, he commanded the right wing, as he
did at the battle of Tiverton Heights. He
was in command of the army in 1780, dur-
ing the absence of Washington, and was
president of the court-martial that tried and
condemned Major Andre. After General
Gates' defeat at Camden, North Carolina, in
the summer of 1 780, General Greene was ap-
pointed to the command of the southern army.
He sent out a force under General Morgan
who defeated General Tarleton at Cowpens,
January 17, 1781. On joining his lieuten-
ant, in February, he found himself out num-
bered by the British and retreated in good
order to Virginia, but being reinforced re-
turned to North Carolina where he fought
the battle of Guilford, and a few days later
compelled the retreat of Lord Cornwallis.
The British were followed by Greene part
of the way, when the American army
marched into South Carolina. After vary-
ing success he fought the battle of Eutaw
Springs, September 8, 1781. For the latter
battle and its glorious consequences, which
virtually closed the war in the Carolinas,
Greene received a medal from Congress and
many valuable grants of land from the
colonies of North and South Carolina and
Georgia. On the return of peace, after a
year spent in Rhode Island, General Greene
took up his residence on his estate' near
Savannah, Georgia, where he died June 19,
1786.
EDGAR ALLEN POE.— Among the
many great literary men whom this
country has produced, there is perhaps no
name more widely known than that of Ed-
gar Allen Poe. He was born at Boston,
Massachusetts, February 19, 1S09. His
parents were David and Elizabeth (Arnold)
Poe, both actors, the mother said to have
been the natural daughter of Benedict Ar-
nold. The parents died while Edgar was
70
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY.
still a child and he was adopted by John
Allen, a wealthy and influential resident of
Richmond, Virginia. Edgar was sent to
school at Stoke, Newington, England,
where he remained until he was thirteen
years old; was prepared for college by pri-
vate tutors, and in i 826 entered the Virginia
University at Charlottesville. He made
rapid progress in his studies, and was dis-
tinguished for his scholarship, but was ex-
pelled within a year for gambling, after
which for several years he resided with his
benefactor at Richmond. He then went to
Baltimore, and in 1829 published a 71 -page
pamphlet called " Al Aaraaf, Tamerlane
and Minor Poems," which, however, at-
tracted no attention and contained nothing
of particular merit. In 1S30 he was ad-
mitted as a cadet at West Point, but was
expelled about a year later for irregulari-
ties. Returning to the home of Mr. Allen
he remained for some time, and finally
quarrelled with his benefactor and enlisted
as a private soldier in the U. S. army, but
remained only a short time. Soon after
this, in 1833, Poe won several prizes for
literary work, and as a result secured the
position of editor of the "Southern Liter-
ary Messenger," at Richmond, Virginia.
Here he married his cousin, Virginia
Clemm, who clung to him with fond devo-
tion through all the many trials that came
to them until her death in January, 1S48.
Poe remained with the "Messenger" for
several years, writing meanwhile many
tales, reviews, essays and poems. He aft-
erward earned a precarious living by his
pen in New York for a time; in 1S39 be-
came editor of "Burton's Gentleman's
Magazine" ; in 1840 to .1842 was editor of
" Graham's Magazine," and drifted around
from one place to another, returning to
New York in 1S44. In 1S45 his best
known production, "The Raven," appeared
in the "Whig Review, " and gained him a
reputation which is now almost world-wide.
He then acted as editor and contributor on
various magazines and periodicals until the
death of his faithful wife in 1S48. In the
summer of 1849 he was engaged to be mar-
ried to a lady of fortune in Richmond, Vir-
ginia, and the day set for the wedding.
He started for New York to make prepara-
tions for the event, but, it is said, began
drinking, was attacked with dilirium tre-
mens in Baltimore and was removed to a
hospital, where he died, October 7, 1849.
The works of Edgar Allen Poe have been
repeatedly published since his death, both
in Europe and America, and have attained
an immense popularity.
HORATIO GATES, one of the prom-
inent figures in the American war for
Independence, was not a native of the col-
onies but was born in England in 1728. In
early life he entered the British army and
attained the rank of major. At the capture
of Marti nico he was aide to General Monk-
ton and after the peace of Aix la Chapelle,
in 1748, he was among the first troops that
landed at Halifax. He was with Braddock
at his defeat in 1755, and was there severe-
ly wounded. At the conclusion of the
French and Indian war Gates purchased an
estate in Virginia, and, resigning from the
British army, settled down to life as a
planter. On the breaking out of the Rev-
olutionary war he entered the service of the
colonies and was made adjutant-general of
the Continental forces with the rank o!
brigadier-general. He accompanied Wash-
ington when he assumed the command oi
the army. In June, 1776, he was appoint-
ed to the command of the army of Canada,
but was superseded in May of the following
coMPi:x/>/rM or biographt
71
year by General Schuyler. In August,
1777, however, the command of that army
was restored to General Gates and Septem-
ber 19 he fought the battle of Bemis
Heights. October 7, the same year, he
won the battle of Stillwater, or Saratoga,
and October 17 received the surrender of
General Burgoyne and his arm}', the pivotal
point of the war. This gave him a brilliant
reputation. June 13, 17S0, General Gates
was appointed to the command of the
southern military division, and August 16 of
that year suffered defeat at the hands of
Lord Cornwallis, at Camden, North Car-
olina. In December following he was
superseded in the command by General
Nathaniel Greene.
On the signing of the peace treaty Gen-
eral Gates retired to his plantation in
Berkeley county, Virginia, where he lived
until 1790, when, emancipating all his
slaves, he removed to New York City, where
he resided until his death, April 10, 1806.
LYMAN J. GAGE.— When President Mc-
Kinley selected Lyman J. Gage as sec-
retary of the treasury he chose one of the
most eminent financiers of the century. Mr.
Gage was born June 28, 1836, at De Ruy-
ter, Madison county, New York, and was of
English descent. He went to Rome, New
York, with his parents when he was ten
years old, and received his early education
in the Rome Academy. Mr. Gage gradu-
ated from the same, and his first position
was that of a clerk in the post office. When
he was fifteen years of age he was detailed
as mail agent on the Rome & Watertown
R. R. until the postmaster-general appointed
regular agents for the route. In 1854, when
he was in his eighteenth year, he entered
the Oneida Central Bank at Rome as a
junior clerk at a salary of one hundred dol-
lars per year. Being unable at the end of
one year and a half's service to obtain an
increase in salary he determined to seek a
wider field of labor. Mr. Gage set out in
the fall of 1855 and arrived in Chicago,
Illinois, on October 3, and soon obtained a
situation in Nathan Cobb's lumber yard and
planing mill. He remained there three years
as a bookkeeper, teamster, etc., and left on
account of change in the management. But
not being able to find anything else to do he
accepted the position of night watchman in
the place for a period of six weeks. He
then became a bookkeeper for the Mer-
chants Saving, Loan and Trust Company at
a salary of five hundred dollars per year.
He rapidly advanced in the service of this
company and in 1 868 he was made cashier.
Mr. Gage was next offered the position of
cashier of the First National Bank and ac-
cepted the offer. He became the president
of the First National Bank of Chicago Jan-
uary 24, 1 89 1, and in 1897 he was appointed
secretary of the treasury. His ability as a
financier and the prominent part he took in
the discussion of financial affairs while presi-
dent of the great Chicago bank gave him a
national reputation.
ANDREW JACRSON, the seventh pres-
ident of the United States, was born
at the Waxhaw settlement, Union county,
North Carolina, March 15, 1767. His
parents were Scotch-Irish, natives of Carr-
ickfergus, who came to this country in 1665
and settled on Twelve-Mile creek, a trib-
utary of the Catawba. His father, who
was a poor farm laborer, died shortly be-
fore Andrew's birth, when the mother re-
moved to Waxhaw, where some relatives
lived. Andrew's education was very limited,
he showing no aptitude for study. In 1780
when but thirteen years of age, he and his
72
C0MPEXD1UM OF BIOGRAPHY.
brother Robert volunteered to serve in the
American partisan troops under General
Sumter, and witnessed the defeat at Hang-
ing Rock. The following year the boys
were both taken prisoners by the enemy
and endured brutal treatment from the
British officers while confined at Camden.
They both took the small pox, when the
mother procured their exchange but Robert
died shortly after. The mother died in
Charleston of ship fever, the same year.
Young Jackson, now in destitute cir-
cumstances, worked for about six months in
a saddler's shop, and then turned school
master, although but little fitted for the
position. He now began to think of a pro-
fession and at Salisbury, North Carolina,
entered upon the study of law r , but from all
accounts gave but little attention to his
books, being one of the most roistering,
rollicking fellows in that town, indulging in
many of the vices of his time. In 1786 he
was admitted to the bar and in 1788 re-
moved to Nashville, then in North Carolina,
with the appointment of public prosecutor,
then an office of little honor or emolument,
but requiring much nerve, for which young
Jackson was already noted. Two years
later, when Tennessee became a territory
he was appointed by Washington to the
position of United States attorney for that
district. In 1791 he married Mrs. Rachel
Robards, a daughter of Colonel John Bon-
«lson, who was supposed at the time to
have been divorced from her former hus-
band that year by act of legislature of Vir-
ginia, but two years later, on finding that
this divorce was not legal, and a new bill of
separation being granted by the courts of
Kentucky, they were remarried in 1793.
This was used as a handle by his oppo-
nents in the political campaign afterwards.
Jackson was untiring in his efforts as United
States attorney and obtained much influence.
He was chosen a member of the Constitu-
tional Convention of 1796, when Tennessee
became a state and was its first represent-
ative in congress. In 1797 he was chosen
United States senator, but resigned the fol-
lowing year to accept a seat on the supreme
court of Tennessee which he held until
1S04. He was elected major-general of
the militia of that state in 1801. In 1804,
being unsuccessful in obtaining the govern-
orship of Louisiana, the new territory, he
retired from public life to the Hermitage,
his plantation. On the outbreak of the
war with Great Britain in 1812 he tendered
his services to the government and went to
New Orleans with the Tennessee troops in
January, 181 3. In March of that year he
was ordered to disband his troops, but later
marched against the Cherokee Indians, de-
feating them at Talladega, Emuckfaw
and Tallapoosa. Having now a national
reputation, he was appointed major-general
in the United States army and was sent
against the British in Florida. He con-
ducted the defence of Mobile and seized
Pensacola. He then went with his troops
to New Orleans, Louisiana, where he gained
the famous victory of January S, 1815. In
18 17-18 he conducted a war against the
Seminoles, and in 1821 was made governor
of the new territory of Florida. In 1823
he was elected United States senator, but
in 1824 was the contestant with J. Q. Adams
for the presidency. Four years later he
was elected president, and served two terms.
In 1832 he took vigorous action against the
milliners of South Carolina, and the next
year removed the public money from the
United States bank. During his second
term the national debt was extinguished. At
the close of his administration he retired to
the Hermitage, where he died June 8, 1845.
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY.
73
ANDREW CARNEGIE, the largest manu-
facturer of pig-iron, steel rails and
coke in the world, well deserves a place
among America's celebrated men. He was
born November 25, 1S35, at Dunfermline,
Scotland, and emigrated to the United States
with his father in 1845, settling in Pittsburg.
Two years later Mr. Carnegie began his
business career by attending a small station-
' ary engine. This work did not suit him and
he became a telegraph messenger with the
Atlantic and Ohio Co., and later he became
an operator, and was one of the first to read
telegraphic signals by sound. Mr. Carnegie
was afterward sent to the Pittsburg office
of the Pennsylvania Railroad Co., as clerk
to the superintendent and. manager of the
telegraph lines. While in this position he
made the acquaintance of Mr. Woodruff, the
inventor of the sleeping-car. Mr. Carnegie
immediately became interested and was one
of the organizers of the company for its con-
struction after the railroad had adopted it,
and the success of this venture gave him the
nucleus of his wealth. He was promoted
to the superintendency of the Pittsburg
division of the Pennsylvania Railroad and
about this time was one of the syndicate
that purchased the Storey farm on Oil Creek
which cost forty thousand dollars and in one
year it yielded over one million dollars in
cash dividends. Mr. Carnegie later was as-
sociated with others in establishing a rolling-
mill, and from this has grown the most ex-
tensive and complete system of iron and
steel industries ever controlled by one indi-
vidual, embracing the Edgar Thomson
Steel Works; Pittsburg Bessemer Steel
Works; Lucy Furnaces; Union Iron Mills;
Union Mill; Keystone Bridge Works; Hart-
man Steel Works; Frick Coke Co.; Scotia
Ore Mines. Besides directing his immense
iron industries he owned eighteen English
newspapers which he ran in the interest of
the Radicals. He has also devoted large
sums of money to benevolent and educational
purposes. In 1879 he erected commodious
swimming baths for the people of Dunferm-
line, Scotland, and in the following year
gave forty thousand dollars for a free library.
Mr. Carnegie gave fifty thousand dollars to
Bellevue Hospital Medical College in 1884
to found what is now called "Carnegie Lab-
oratory, " and in 1885 gave five hundred
thousand dollars to Pittsburg for a public
library. He also gave two hundred and fifty
thousand dollars for a music hall and library
in Allegheny City in 18S6, and two hundred
and fifty thousand dollars to Edinburgh, Scot-
land, for a free library. He also established
free libraries at Braddock, Pennsylvania,
and other places for the benefit of his em-
ployes. He also published the following
works, "An American Four-in-hand in
Britain;" " Round the World;" "Trium-
phant Democracy; or Fifty Years' March of
the Republic."
GEORGE H. THOMAS, the " Rock of
Chickamauga," one of the best known
commanders during the late Civil war, was
born in Southampton county, Virginia, July
31, 1S16, his parents being of Welsh and
French origin respectively. In 1836 young
Thomas was appointed a cadet at the Mili-
tary Academy, at W r est Point, from which
he graduated in 1840, and was promoted to
the office of second lieutenant in the Third
Artillery. Shortly after, with his company,
he went to Florida, where he served for two
years against the Seminole Indians. In
1 84 1 he was brevetted first lieutenant for
gallant conduct. He remained in garrison
in the south and southwest until 1845, at
which date with the regiment he joined the
army under General Taylor, and participat-
74
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY.
ed in the defense of Fort Brown, the storm-
ing of Monterey and the battle of Buena
Vista. After the latter event he remained
in garrison, now brevetted major, until the
close of the Mexican war. After a year
spent in Florida, Captain Thomas was or-
dered to West Point, where he served as in-
structor until 1854. He then was trans-
ferred to California. In May, 1855, Thom-
as was appointed major of the Second Cav-
alry, with whom he spent five years in Texas.
Although a southern man, and surrounded
by brother officers who all were afterwards
in the Confederate service, Major Thomas
never swerved from his allegiance to the
government. A. S. Johnston was the col-
onel of the regiment, R. E. Lee the lieuten-
ant-colonel, and W. J. Hardee, senior ma-
jor, while among the younger officers were
Hood, Fitz Hugh Lee, Van Dorn and Kirby
Smith. When these officers left the regi-
ment to take up arms for the Confederate
cause he remained with it, and April 17th,
i86t, crossed the Potomac into his native
state, at its head. After taking an active part
in the opening scenes of the war on the Poto-
mac and Shenandoah, in August, 1861, he
was promoted to be brigadier-general and
transferred to the Army of the Cumberland.
January 19-20, 1862, Thomas defeated
Crittenden at Mill Springs, and this brought
him into notice and laid the foundation of
his fame. He continued in command of his
division until September 20, 1862, except
during the Corinth campaign when he com-
manded the right wing of the Army of the
Tennessee. He was in command of the
latter at the battle of Perryville, also, Octo-
ber 8, 1862.
On the division of the Army of the Cum-
berland into corps, January 9, 1863, Gen-
eral Thomas was assigned to the command
of the Fourteenth, and at the battle of Chick-
amauga, after the retreat of Rosecrans,
firmly held his own against the hosts of Gen-
eral Bragg. A history of his services from
that on would be a history of the war in the
southwest. On September 27, 1S64, Gen-
eral Thomas was given command in Ten-
nessee, and after organizing his army, de-
feated General Hood in the battle of Nash-
ville, December 15 and 16, 1864. Much
complaint was made before this on account
of what they termed Thomas' slowness, and
he was about to be superseded because he
would not strike until he got ready, but
when the blow was struck General Grant
was the first to place on record this vindica-
tion of Thomas judgment. He received a
vote of thanks from Congress, and from the
legislature of Tennessee a gold medal. Af-
ter the close of the war General Thomas
had command of several of the military di-
visions, and died at San Francisco, Cali-
fornia, March 28, 1870.
GEORGE BANCROFT, one of the most
eminent American historians, was a
native of Massachusetts, born at Worcester,
October 3, 1800, and a son of Aaron
Bancroft, D. D. The father, Aaron Ban-
croft, was born at Reading, Massachusetts,
November 10, 1755. He graduated at
Harvard in 1778, became a minister, and for
half a century was rated as one of the ablest
preachers in New England. He was also a
prolific writer and published a number of
works among which was " Life of George
Washington." Aaron Bancroft died August
19, 1S39.
The subject of our present biography,
George Bancroft, graduated at Harvard in
18 17, and the following year entered the
University of Gottingen, svhere he studied
history and philology under the most emi-
nent teachers, and in 1820 received the de-
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY,
75
gree of doctor of philosophy at Gottingen.
Upon his return home he published a volume
of poems, and later a translation of Heeren's
" Reflections on the Politics of Ancient
Greece." In 1834 he produced the first
volume of his "History of the United
States," this being followed by other vol-
umes at different intervals later. This was
his greatest work and ranks as the highest
authority, taking its place among the great-
est of American productions.
George Bancroft was appointed secretary
of the navy by President Polk in 1845, but
resigned in 1846 and became minister pleni-
potentiary to England. In 1849 he retired
from public life and took up his residence at
Washington, D. C. In 1S67 he was ap-
pointed United States minister to the court of
Berlin and negotiated the treaty by which Ger-
mans coming to the United States were re-
leased from their allegiance to the govern-
ment of their native land. In 1871 he was
minister plenipotentiary to the German em-
pire and served until 1874. The death of
George Bancroft occurred January 17, 1891.
GEORGE GORDON MEADE, a fa-
mous Union general, was born at
Cadiz, Spain, December 30, 18 15, his father
being United States naval agent at that
port. After receiving a good education he
entered the West Point Military Academy
in 1 83 1. From here he was graduated
June 30, 1835, and received the rank of
second lieutenant of artillery. He par-
ticipated in the Seminole war, but resigned
from the army in October, 1836. He en-
tered upon the profession of civil engineer,
which he followed for several years, part of
the time in the service of the government in
making surveys of the mouth of the Missis-
sippi river. His report and results of some
experiments made by him in this service
gained Meade much credit. He also was
employed in surveying the boundary line of
Texas and the northeastern boundary line
between the United States and Canada.
In 1842 he was reappointed in the army to
the position of second lieutenant of engineers.
During the Mexican war he served with dis-
tinction on the staff of General Taylor in
the battles of Palo Alto, Resaca de la Palma
and the storming of Monterey. He received
his brevet of first lieutenant for the latter
action. In 1851 he was made full first
lieutenant in his corps; a captain in 1856,
and major soon after. At the close of the
war with Mexico he was employed in light-
house construction and in geodetic surveys
until the breaking out of the Rebellion, in
which he gained great reputation. In
August, 1 86 1, he was made brigadier-general
of volunteers and placed in command of the
second brigade of the Pennsylvania Reserves,
a division of the First Corps in the Army of
the Potomac. In the campaign of 1862,
under McClellan, Meade took an active
part, being present at the battles of Mechan-
icsville, Gaines' Mill and Glendale, in the
latter of which he was severely wounded.
On rejoining his command he was given a
division and distinguished himself at its head
in the battles of South Mountain and Antie-
tam. During the latter, on the wounding
of General Hooker, Meade was placed in
command of the corps and was himself
slightly wounded. For services he was
promoted, November, 1862, to the rank
of major-general of volunteers. On the
recovery of General Hooker General Meade
returned to his division and in December,
1862, at Fredericksburg, led an attack
which penetrated Lee's right line and swept
to his rear. Being outnumbered and un-
supported, he finally was driven back. The
same month Meade was assigned to the
76
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY.
command of the Fifth Corps, and at Chan-
cellorsville in May, 1S63, his sagacity and
ability so struck General Hooker that when
the latter asked to be relieved of the com-
mand, in June of the same year, he nomi-
nated Meade as his successor. June 28,
1863, President Lincoln commissioned Gen-
eral Meade commander-in-chief of the Army
of the Potomac, then scattered and moving
hastily through Pennsylvania to the great
and decisive battlefield at Gettysburg, at
which he was in full command. With the
victory on those July days the name of
Meade will ever be associated. From that
time until the close of the war he com-
manded the Army of the Potomac. In
1864 General Grant, being placed at the
head of all the armies, took up his quarters
with the Army of the Potomac. From that
time until the surrender of Lee at Appo-
matox Meade's ability shone conspicuously,
and his tact in the delicate position in lead-
ing his army under the eye of his superior
officer commanded the respect and esteem
of General Grant. Forservices Meade was
promoted to the rank of major-general, and
on the close of hostilities, in July, 1865,
was assigned to the command of the military
division of the Atlantic, with headquarters
at Philadelphia. This post he held, with
the exception of a short period on detached
duty in Georgia, until his death, which took
place November 6, 1872.
DAVID CROCKETT was a noted hunter
and scout, and also one of the earliest
of American humorists. He was born Au-
gust 17, 1786, in Tennessee, and was one
of the most prominent men of his locality,
serving as representative in congress from
1827 until 1 S3 1. He attracted consider-
able notice while a member of congress and
was closely associated with General Jack-
son, of whom he was a personal friend. He
went to Texas and enlisted in the Texan
army at the time of the revolt of Texas
against Mexico and gained a wide reputa-
tion as a scout. He was one of the famous
one hundred and forty men under Colonel
W. B. Travis who were besieged in Fort
Alamo, near San Antonio, Texas, by Gen-
eral Santa Anna with some five thousand
Mexicans on February 23, 1S36. The fort
was defended for ten days, frequent assaults
being repelled with great slaughter, over
one thousand Mexicans being killed or
wounded, while not a man in the fort was
injured. Finally, on March 6, three as-
saults were made, and in the hand-to-hand
fight that followed the last, the Texans were
wofully outnumbered and overpowered.
They fought desperately with clubbed mus-
kets till only six were left alive, including
W. B. Travis, David Crockett and James
Bowie. These surrendered under promise
of protection; but when they were brought
before Santa Anna he ordered them all to
be cut to pieces.
HENRY WATTERSON, one of the most
conspicuous figures in the history of
American journalism, was born at Wash-
ington, District of Columbia, February 16,
1840. His boyhood days were mostly spent
in the city of his birth, where his father,
Harvey M. Watterson, was editor of the
"Union," a well known journal.
Owing to a weakness of the eyes, which
interfered with a systematic course of study,
young Watterson was educated almost en-
tirely at home. A successful college career
was out of the question, but he acquired a
good knowledge of music, literature and art
from private tutors, but the most valuable
part of the training he received was by as-
sociating with his father and the throng 01
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY.
n
public men whom he met in Washington
in the stirring days immediately preceding
the Civil war. He began his journalistic
career at an early age as dramatic and
musical critic, and in 1858, became editor
of the "Democratic Review" and at the
same time contributed to the "States,"
a journal of liberal opinions published in
Washington. In this he remained until
the breaking out of the war, when the
"States," opposing the administration, was
suppressed, and young W'atterson removed
to Tennessee. He next appears as editor
of the Nashville "Republican Banner," the
most influential paper in the state at that
time. After the occupation of Nashville by
the Federal troops, Watterson served as a
volunteer staff officer in the Confederate
service until the close of the war, with the
exception of a year spent in editing the
Chattanooga "Rebel." On the close of
the war he returned to Nashville and re-
sumed his connection with the "Banner."
After a trip to Europe he assumed control
of the Louisville "Journal," which he soon
combined with the "Courier" and the
"Democrat" of that place, founding the
well-known "Courier-Journal," the first
number of which appeared November 8,
1868. Mr. Watterson also represented his
district in congress for several years.
PATRICK SARSFIELD GILMORE,
one of the most successful and widely
known bandmasters and musicians of the
last half century in America, was born in
Ballygar, Ireland, on Christmas day, 1829.
He attended a public school until appren-
ticed to a wholesale merchant at Athlone,
of the brass band of which town he soon
became a member. His passion for music
conflicting with the duties of a mercantile
life, his position as clerk was exchanged for
that of musical instructor to the young sons
of his employer. At the age of nineteen he
sailed for America and two days after his
arrival in Boston was put in charge of the
band instrument department of a prominent
music house. In the interests of the pub-
lications of this house he organized a minstrel
company known as " Ord way's Eolians,"
with which he first achieved success as a
cornet soloist. Later on he was called the
best E-flat cornetist in the United States.
He became leader, successively, of the Suf-
folk, Boston Brigade and Salem bands.
During his connection with the latter he
inaugurated the famous Fourth of July con-
certs on Boston Common, since adopted as
a regular programme for the celebration of
Independence Day. In 1858 Mr. Gilmore
founded the organization famous thereafter
as Gilmore's Band. At the outbreak of the
Civil war this band was attached to the
Twenty-Fourth .Massachusetts Infantry.
Later, when the economical policy of dis-
pensing with music had proved a mistake,
Gilmore was entrusted with the re-organiza-
tion of state military bands, and upon his
arrival at New Orleans with his own band
was made bandmaster-general by General
Banks. On the inauguration of Governor
Hahn, later on, in Lafayette square, New
Orleans, ten thousand children, mostly of
Confederate parents, rose to the baton of
Gilmore and, accompanied by six hundred
instruments, thirty-six guns and the united
fire of three regiments of infantry, sang the
Star-Spangled Banner, America and other
patriotic Union airs. In June, 1867, Mr.
Gilmore conceived a national musical festi-
val, which was denounced as a chimericsl
undertaking, but he succeeded and June 15,
1869, stepped upon the stage of the Boston
Colosseum, a vast structure erected for the •
occasion, and in the presence of over fifty
78
COMPEXDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY
thousand people lifted his baton over an
orchestra of one thousand and a chorus of
ten thousand. On the 17th of June, 1872,
he opened a still greater festival in Boston,
when, in addition to an orchestra of two
thousand and a chorus of twenty thousand,
were present the Band of the Grenadier
Guards, of London, of the Garde Repub-
licaine, of Paris, of Kaiser Franz, of Berlin,
and one from Dublin, Ireland, together with
Johann Strauss, Franz Abt and many other
soloists, vocal and instrumental. Gilmore's
death occurred September 24, 1892.
MARTIN VAN BUREN was the eighth
president of the United States, 1837
to 1 84 1. He was of Dutch extraction, and
his ancestors were among the earliest set-
tlers on the banks of the Hudson. He was
born December 5, 1782, at Kinderhook,
New York. Mr. Van Buren took up the
study of law at the age of fourteen and took
an active part in political matters before he
had attained his majority. He commenced
the practice of law in 1803 at his native
town, and in 1809 he removed to Hudson,
Columbia county, New York, where he
spent seven years gaining strength and wis-
dom from his contentions at the bar with
some of the ablest men of the profession.
Mr. Van Buren was elected to the state
senate, and from 18 15 until 1S19 he was at-
torney-general of the state. He was re-
elected to the senate in 1 S 16, and in 18 18
he was one of the famous clique of politi-
cians known as the "Albany regency."
Mr. Van Buren was a member of the con-
vention for the revision of the state consti-
tution, in 1821. In the same year he was
elected to the United States senate and
served his term in a manner that caused his
ce-election to that body in 1827, but re-
signed the following year as he had been
elected governor of New York. Mr. Van
Buren was appointed by President Jackson as
secretary of state in March, 1829, but resigned
in 1 83 1, and during the recess of congress
he was appointed minister to England.
The senate, however, when it convened in
December refused to ratify the appointment.
In Ma)', 1S32, he was nominated by the
Democrats as their candidate for vice-presi-
dent on the ticket with Andrew Jackson,
and he was elected in the following Novem-
ber. He received the nomination to suc-
ceed President Jackson in 1836, as the
Democratic candidate, and in the electoral
college he received one hundred and seventy
votes out of two hundred and eighty-three,
and was inaugurated March 4, 1837. His
administration was begun at a time of great
business depression, and unparalled financial
distress, which caused the suspension of
specie payments by the banks. Nearly
every bank in the country was forced to
suspend specie payment, and no less than
two hundred and fifty-four business houses
failed in New York in one week. The
President urged the adoption of the inde-
pendent treasury idea, which passed through
the senate twice but each time it was de-
feated in the house. However the measure
ultimately became a law near the close of
President Van Buren's term of office. An-
other important measure that was passed
was the pre-emption law that gave the act-
ual settlers preference in the purchase of
public lands. The question of slavery had
begun to assume great preponderance dur-
ing this administration, and a great conflict
was tided over by the passage of a resolu-
tion that prohibited petitions or papers that
in any way related to slavery to be acted
upon. In the Democratic convention of
1840 President Van Buren secured the
nomination for re-election on that ticket
COMPEXDIi'M OF BIOGRArilV.
without opposition, but in the election he
only received the votes of seven states, his
opponent, W. H. Harrison, being elected
president. In 1848 Mr. Van Buren was
the candidate of the " Free-Soilers," but
was unsuccessful. After this he retired
from public life and spent the remainder of
his life on his estate at Kinderhook, where
he died July 24, 1862.
W INFIELD SCOTT, a distinguished
American general, was born June 13,
1786, near Petersburg, Dinwiddie county,
Virginia, and was educated at the William
and Mary College. He studied law and was
admitted to the bar, and in 1808 he accepted
an appointment as captain of light artillery,
and was ordered to New Orleans. In June,
18 1 2, he was promoted to be lieutenant-
colonel, and on application was sent to the
frontier, and reported to General Smyth,
near Buffalo. He was made adjutant-gen-
eral with the rank of a colonel, in March,
1 8 1 3, and the same month attained the colo-
nelcy of his regiment. He participated in
the principal battles of the war and was
wounded many times, and at the close of
the war he was voted a gold medal by con-
gress for his services. He was a writer of
considerable merit on military topics, and
he gave to the military science, "General
Regulations of the Army " and " System of
Infantry and Rifle Practice." He took a
prominent part in the Black Hawk war,
and at the beginning of the Mexican war he
was appointed to take the command of the
army. Gen. Scott immediately assembled
his troops at Lobos Island from which he
moved by transports to Vera Cruz, which
he took March 29, 1847, and rapidly fol-
lowed up his first success. He fought the
battles of Cerro Gordo and Jalapa, both of
which he won, and proceeded to Pueblo
where he was preceded by Worth's division
which had taken the town and waited for the
coming of Scott. The army was forced to
wait here for supplies, and August 7th,
General Scott started on his victorious
march to the city of Mexico with ten thou-
sand, seven hundred and thirty-eight men.
The battles of Contreras, Cherubusco and
San Antonio were fought August 19-20,
and on the 24th an armistice was agreed
upon, but as the commissioners could not
agree on the terms of settlement, the fight-
ing was renewed at Molino Del Rey, and
the Heights of Chapultepec were carried
by the victorious army of General Scott.
He gave the enemy no respite, however,
and vigorously followed up his advantages.
On September 14, he entered the City of
Mexico and dictated the terms of surrender
in the very heart of the Mexican Republic.
General Scott was offered the presidency of
the Mexican Republic, but declined. Con-
gress extended him a vote of thanks and
ordered a gold medal be struck in honor of
his generalship and bravery. He was can-
didate for the presidency on the Whig plat
form but was defeated. He was honored by
having the title cf lieutenant-general con-
ferred upon him in 1 85 5 . At the beginning of
the Civil war he was too infirm to take charge
of the army, but did signal service in be-
half of the government. He retired from
the service November 1, 1861, and in 1864.
he published his "Autobiography." Gen-
eral Scott died at West Point, May 29, 1866
EDWARD EVERETT HALE for many
years occupied a high place among the
most honored of America's citizens. As
a preacher he ranks among the foremost
in the New England states, but to the gen-
eral public he is best known through his
writings. Born in Boston, Mass., April 3,
so
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY
{822, a descendant of one of the most
prominent New England families, he enjoyed
in his youth many of the advantages denied
the majority of boys. He received his pre-
paratory schooling at the Boston Latin
School, after which he finished his studies at
Harvard where he was graduated with high
honors in 1839. Having studied theology
at home, Mr. Hale embraced the ministry
and in 1846 became pastor of a Unitarian
church in Worcester, Massachusetts, a post
which he occupied about ten years. He
then, in 1856, became pastor of the South
Congregational church in Boston, over which
he presided many years.
Mr. Hale also found time to write a
great many literary works of a high class.
Among many other well-known productions
?f his are " The Rosary," " Margaret Per-
:ival in America," "Sketches of Christian
iistory," "Kansas and Nebraska," "Let-
ters on Irish Emigration," " Ninety Days'
Worth of Europe," " If, Yes, and Perhaps,"
; Tngham Papers," "Reformation," "Level
Sest and Other Stories, " ' ' Ups and Downs, "
"Christmas Eve and Christmas Day," " In
His Name," "Our New Crusade," "Work-
ingmen's Homes," " Boys' Heroes," etc.,
etc., besides many others which might be
mentioned. One of his works, " In His
Name," has earned itself enduring fame by
the good deeds it has called forth. The
numerous associations known as ' 'The King's
Daughters," which has accomplished much
good, owe their existence to the story men-
tioned.
DAVID GLASCOE FARRAGUT stands
pre-eminent as one of the greatest na-
val officers of the world. He was born at
Campbell's Station, East Tennessee, July
5, 1801, and entered the navy of the United
States as a midshipman. He had the good
fortune to serve under Captain David Por-
ter, who commanded the " Essex," and by
whom he was taught the ideas of devotion
to duty from which he never swerved dur-
ing all his career. In 1823 Mr. Farragut
took part in a severe fight, the result of
which was the suppression of piracy in the
West Indies. He then entered upon the
regular duties of his profession which was
only broken into by a year's residence with
Charles Folsom, our consul at Tunis, who
was afterwards a distinguished professor at
Harvard. Mr. Farragut was one of the best
linguists in the navy. He had risen through
the different grades of the service until the
war of 1861-65 found him a captain resid-
ing at Norfolk, Virginia. He removed with
his family to Hastings, on the Hudson, and
hastened to offer his services to the Federal
government, and as the capture of New
Orleans had been resolved upon, Farragut
was chosen to command the expedition.
His force consisted of the West Gulf block-
ading squadron and Porter's mortar flotilla.
In January, 1S62, he hoisted his pennant at
the mizzen peak of the "Hartford" at
Hampton roads, set sail from thence on the
3rd of February and reached Ship Island on
the 20th of the same month. A council of
war was held on the 20th of April, in which
it was decided that whatever was to be done
must be done quickly. The signal was made
from the flagship and accordingly the fleet
weighed anchor at 1:55 on the morning of
April 24th, and at 3 130 the whole force was
under way. The history of this brilliant strug-
gle is well known, and the glory ofit madeFar-
ragut a hero and also made him rear admir-
al. In the summer of 1 862 he ran the batteries
at Vicksburg, and on March 14, 1863, he
passed through the fearful and destructive
fire from Port Hudson, and opened up com-
munication with Flag-officer Porter, who
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY.
&n
had control of the upper Mississippi. On
May 24th he commenced active operations
against that fort in conjunction with the army
and it fell on July 9th. Mr. Farragut filled
the measure of his fame on the 5th of Au-
gust, 1864, by his great victory, the capture
of Mobile Bay and the destruction of the
Confederate fleet, including the formidable
ram Tennessee. For this victory the rank
of admiral was given to Mr. Farragut. He
died at Portsmouth, New Hampshire, Au-
gust 4, 1870.
GEORGE W. CHILDS, a philanthropist
whose remarkable personality stood
for the best and highest type of American
citizenship, and whose whole life was an
object lesson in noble living, was born in
1829 at Baltimore, Maryland, of humble
parents, and spent his early life in unremit-
ting toil. He was a self-made man in the
fullest sense of the word, and gained his
great wealth by his own efforts. He was a
man of very great influence, and this, in
conjunction with his wealth, would have
been, in the hands of other men, a means of
getting them political preferment, but Mr.
Childs steadily declined any suggestions that
would bring him to figure prominently in
public affairs. He did not choose to found
a financial dynasty, but devoted all his
powers to the helping of others, with the
most enlightened beneficence and broadest
sympathy. Mr. Childs once remarked that
his greatest pleasure in life was in doing
good to others. He always despised mean-
ness, and one of his objects of life was to
prove that a man could be liberal and suc-
cessful at the same time. Upon these lines
Mr. Childs made a name for himself as the
director of one of the representative news-
papers of America, "The Philadelphia Pub-
lic Ledger," which was owned jointly by
5
himself and the Drexel estate, and which he
edited for thirty years. He acquired con-
trol of the paper at a time when it was be-
ing published at a heavy loss, set it upon a
firm basis of prosperity, and he made it
more than a money- making machine — he
made it respected as an exponent of the
best side of journalism, and it stands as a
monument to his sound judgment and up-
right business principles. Mr. Childs' char-
itable repute brought him many applications
for assistance, and he never refused to help
any one that was deserving of aid; and not
only did he help those who asked, but he
would by careful inquiry find those who
needed aid but were too proud to solicit it.
He was a considerable employer of labor
and his liberality was almost unparalleled.
The death of this great and good man oc-
curred February 3d, 1894.
PATRICK HENRY won his way to un
dying fame in the annals of the early
history of the United States by introducing
into the house of burgesses his famous reso-
lution against the Stamp Act, which he car-
ried through, after a stormy debate, by a
majority of one. At this time he exclaimed
" Caesar had his Brutus, Charles I his Crom-
well and George III " (here he was inter-
rupted by cries of " treason ") " may profit
by their example. If this be treason make
the most of it."
Patrick Henry was born at Studley,
Hanover county, Virginia, May 29, 1736,
and was a son of Colonel John Henry, a
magistrate and school teacher of Aberdeen,
Scotland, and a nephew of Robertson, the
historian. He received his education from
his father, and was married at the age of
eighteen. He was twice bankrupted before
he had reached his twenty-fourth year, when
after six weeks of study he was admitted to
8-4
COMPEXDICM OF BIOGRAPHY.
the bar. He worked for three years with-
out a case and finally was applauded for his
plea lor the people's rights and gained im-
mense popularity. After his famous Stamp
Act resolution he was the leader of the pa-
triots in Virginia. In 1769 he was admitted
to practice in the general courts and speed-
ily won a fortune by his distinguished ability
as a speaker. He was the first speaker of
the General Congress at Philadelphia in
1774. He was for a time a colonel of
militia in 1775, and from 1776 to 1779 and
1 78 1 to 1786 he was governor of Virginia.
For a number of years he retired from pub-
lic life and was tendered and declined a
number of important political offices, and in
March, 1789, he was elected state senator
but aid not take his seat on account of his
death which occurred at Red Hill, Charlotte
county, Virginia, June 6, 1799.
BENEDICT ARNOLD, an American
general and traitor of the Revolution-
ary war, is one of the noted characters in
American history. He was born in Nor-
wich, Connecticut, January 3, 1740. He
ran away and enlisted in the army when
young, but deserted in a short time. He
then became a merchant at New Haven,
Connecticut, but failed. In 1775 he was
commissioned colonel in the Massachusetts
militia, and in the autumn of that year was
placed in command of one thousand men
for the invasion of Canada. He marched
his army through the forests of Maine and
joined General Montgomery before Quebec.
Their combined forces attacked that city on
December 31, 1775, and Montgomery was
killed, and Arnold, severely wounded, was
compelled to retreat and endure a rigorous
winter a few miles from the city, where they
were at the mercy of the Canadian troops
had they cared to attack them. On his re-
turn he was raised to the rank of brigadier-
general. He was given command of a small
flotilla on Lake Champlain, with which he
encountered an immense force, and though
defeated, performed many deeds of valor.
He resented the action of congress in pro-
moting a number of his fellow officers and
neglecting himself. In 1777 he was made
major-general, and under General Gates at
Bemis Heights fought valiantly. For some
reason General Gates found fault with his
conduct and ordered him under arrest, and
he was kept in his tent until the battle of
Stillwater was waxing hot, when Arnold
mounted his horse and rode to the front of
his old troop, gave command to charge, and
rode like a mad man into the thickest of
the fight and was not overtaken by Gates'
courier until he had routed the enemy and
fell wounded. Upon his recovery he was
made general, and was placed in command
at Philadelphia. Here he married, and his
acts of rapacity soon resulted in a court-
martial. He was sentenced to be repri-
manded by the commander-in-chief, and
though Washington performed this duty
with utmost delicacy and consideration, it
was never forgiven. Arnold obtained com-
mand at West Point, the most important
post held by the Americans, in 1780, and
immediately offered to surrender it to Sir
Henry Clinton, British commander at New
York. Major Andre was sent to arrange
details with Arnold, but on his return trip
to New York he was captured by Americans,
the plot was detected, and Andre suffered
the death penalty as a spy. Arnold es-
caped, and was paid about $40,000 by the
British for his treason and was made briga-
dier-general. He afterward commanded an
expedition that plundered a portion of Vir-
ginia, and another that burned New Lon-
don, Connecticut, and captured Fort Trum-
COMPEXniL'M OF BIOGRAPHY.
B5
bull, the commandant of which Arnold mur-
dered with the sword he had just surren-
dered. He passed the latter part of his life
in England, universally despised, and died
in London June 14, 1S01.
ROBERT G. INGERSOLL, one of the
most brilliant orators that America has
produced, also a lawyer of considerable
merit, won most of his fame as a lecturer.
Mr. Ingersoll was born August 24, 1833,
at Dryden, Gates county, New York, and
received hiseducation in the common schools.
He went west at the age of twelve, and for
a short time he attended an academy in
Tennessee, and also taught school in that
state. He began the practice of law in the
southern part of Illinois in 1854. Colonel
Ingcrsoll's principal fame was made in
the lecture room by his lectures in which he
ridiculed religious faith and creeds and criti-
cised the Bible and the Christian religion.
He was the orator of the day in the Decora-
tion Day celebration in the city of New York
in 1 8S2 and his oration was widely com-
mended. He first attracted political notice
in the convention at Cincinnati in 1876 by
his brilliant eulogy on James G. Blaine. He
practiced law in Peoria, Illinois, for a num-
ber of ) ears, but later located in the city of
New York. He published the follow-
ing: "The Gods and other Lectures;" "The
Ghosts;" "Some Mistakes of Moses;"
'•What Shall I Do To Be Saved;" "Inter-
views on Talmage and Presbyterian Cate-
chism ;" The " North American Review
Controversy;" "Prose Poems;" "A Vision
of War ;" etc.
JOSEPH ECCLESTON JOHNSTON,
a noted general in the Confederate army,
was born in Prince Edward county, Virginia,
in 1807. He graduated from West Point
and entered the army in 1829. For a num-
ber of years his chief service was garrison
duty. He saw active service, however, in
the Seminole war in Florida, part of the
time as a staff officer of General Scott. He
resigned his commission in 1837, but re-
turned to the army a year later, and was
brevetted captain for gallant services in
Florida. He was made first lieutenant of
topographical engineers, and was engaged
in river and harbor improvements and also
in the survey of the Texas boundary and
the northern boundary of the United
States until the beginning of the war
with Mexico. He was at the siege of Vera
Cruz, and at the battle of Cerro Gordo was
wounded while reconnoitering the enemy's
position, after which he was brevetted major
and colonel. He was in all the battles about
the city of Mexico, and was again wounded
in the final assault upon that city. After
the Mexican war closed he returned to duty
as captain of topographical engineers, but
in 1855 he was made lieutenant-colonel of
cavalry and did frontier duty, and was ap-
pointed inspector-general of the expedition
to Utah. In i860 he was appointed quar-
termaster-general with rank of brigadier-
general. At the outbreak of hostilities in
1 861 he resigned his commission and re-
ceived the appointment of major-general of
the Confederate army. He held Harper's
Ferry, and later fought General Patterson
about Winchester. At the battle of Bull
Run he declined command in favor of Beau-
regard, and acted under that general's direc-
tions. He commanded the Confederates in
the famous Peninsular campaign, and was
severely wounded at Fair Oaks and was
succeeded in command by General Lee.
Upon his recovery he was made lieutenant-
general and assigned to the command of the
southwestern department. He attempted
5fi
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY,
to raise the siege of Vicksburg, and was
finally defeated at Jackson, Mississippi.
Having been made a general he succeeded
General Bragg in command of the army of
Tennessee and was ordered to check General
Sherman's advance upon Atlanta. Not
daring to risk a battle with the overwhelm-
ing forces of Sherman, he slowly retreated
toward Atlanta, and was relieved of com-
mand by Fresident Davis and succeeded by
General Hood. Hood utterly destroyed his
own army by three furious attacks upon
Sherman. Johnston was restored to com-
mand in the Carolinas, and again faced
Sherman, but was defeated in several en-
gagements and continued a slow retreat
toward Richmond. Hearing of Lee's sur-
render, he communicated with General
Sherman, and finally surrendered his army
at Durham, North Carolina, April 26, 1865.
General Johnston was elected a member
of the forty-sixth congress and was ap-
pointed United States railroad commis-
sioner in 1885. His death occurred March
21, 1891.
SAMUEL LANGHORNE CLEMENS,
known throughout the civilized world
as "Mark Twain," is recognized as one of
the greatest humorists America has pro-
duced. He was born in Monroe county,
Missouri, November 30, 1835. Hespenthis
boyhood days in his native state and many
of his earlier experiences are related in vari-
ous forms in his later writings. One of his
early acquaintances, Capt. Isaiah Sellers,
at an early day furnished river news for the
New Orleans " Picayune," using the noni-
de-plume of "Mark Twain." Sellers died
in 1863 and Clemens took up his nont-de-
plume and made it famous throughout the
world by his literary work. In 1862 Mr.
Clemens became a journalist at Virginia,
Nevada, and afterward followed the same pro-
fession at San Francisco and Buffalo, New
York. He accumulated a fortune from the
sale of his many publications, but in later
years engaged in business enterprises, partic-
ularly the manufacture of a typesetting ma-
chine, which dissipated his fortune and re-
duced him almost to poverty, but with resolute
heart he at once again took up his pen and
engaged in literary work in the effort to
regain his lost ground. Among the best
known of his works may be mentioned the fol-
lowing: ' ' The Jumping Frog, " ' ' Tom Saw-
yer," " Roughingit," " Innocents Abroad,"
"Huckleberry Finn," "Gilded Age,"
"Prince and Pauper," "Million Pound
Bank Note," "A Yankee in King Arthur's
Court," etc.
CHRISTOPHER CARSON, better
known as "Kit Carson;" was an Amer-
ican trapper and scout who gained a wide
reputation for his frontier work. He was a
native of Kentucky, born December 24th,
1809. He grew to manhood there, devel-
oping a natural inclination for adventure in
the pioneer experiences in his native state.
When yet a young man he became quite
well known on the frontier. He served as
a guide to Gen. Fremont in his Rocky
Mountain explorations and enlisted in the
army. He was an officer in the United
States service in both the Mexican war and
the great Civil war, and in the latter received
a brevet of brigadier-general for meritorious
service. His death occurred May 23,
1868.
JOHN SHERMAN.— Statesman, politi-
cian, cabinet officer and senator, the name
of the gentleman who heads this sketch is al-
most a household word throughout this
country. Identified with some of the most
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY
87
impoitant measures adopted by our Govern-
ment since the close of the Civil war, he may
well be called one of the leading men of his
day.
John Sherman was born at Lancaster,
Fairfield county, Ohio, May ioth, 1823,
the son of Charles R. Sherman, an emi-
nent lawyer and judge of the supreme court
of Ohio and who died in 1829. The subject
of this article received an academic educa-
tion and was admitted to the bar in 1844.
In the Whig conventions of 1844 and 1848
he sat as a delegate. He was a member of
the National house of representatives,
from 1S55 to 1 86 1. In 1 S60 he was re-
elected to the same position but was chosen
United States senator before he took his
scat in the lower house. He was re-elected
senator in 1S66 and 1872 and was long
chairman of the committee on finance and
on agriculture. He took a prominent part
in debates on finance and on the conduct of
the war, and was one of the authors of the
reconstruction measures in 1866 and 1S67,
and was appointed secretary of the treas-
ury March 7th, 1877.
Mr. Sherman was re-elected United States
senator from Ohio January iSth, 1881, and
again in 1S86 and 1892, during which time
he was regarded as one of the most promi-
nent leaders of the Republican party, both
in the senate and in the country. He was
several times the favorite of his state for the
nomination for president.
On the formation of his cabinet in March,
1897, President McKinley tendered the posi-
tion of secretary of state to Mr. Sherman,
which was accepted.
WILLIAM HENRY HARRISON, ninth
president of the United States, was
born in Charles county, Virginia, February
9: J 773. Irie son of Governor Benjamin
Harrison. He took a course in Hampden-
Sidney College with a view to the practice
of medicine, and then went to Philadelphia
to study under Dr. Rush, but in 1 79 1 he
entered the army, and obtained the commis-
sion of ensign, was soon promoted to the
lieutenancy, and was with General Wayne
in his war against the Indians. For his
valuable service he was promoted to the
rank of captain and given command of Fort
Washington, now Cincinnati. He was ap-
pointed secretary of the Northwest Territory
in 1797, and in 1799 became its representa-
tive in congress. In 1801 he was appointed
governor of Indiana Territory, and held the
position for twelve years, during which time
he negotiated important treaties with the In-
dians, causing them to relinquish millions of
acres of land, and also won the battle of
Tippecanoe in 181 1. He succeeded in
obtaining a 1 change in the law which did not
permit purchase of public lands in less tracts
than four thousand acres, reducing the limit
to three hundred and twenty acres. He
became major-general of Kentucky militia
and brigadier-general in the United States
army in 18 12, and won great renown in
the defense of Fort Meigs, and his victory
over the British and Indians under Proctor
and Tecumseh at the Thames river, October
5, 18 1 3.
In 1 8 16 General Harrison was elected to
congress from Ohio, and during the canvass
was accused of corrupt methods in regard tc
the commissariat of the army. He demanded
an investigation after the election and was
exonerated. In 1S19 he was elected to
the Ohio state senate, and in 1824 he gave
his vote as a presidential elector to Henry
Clay. He became a member of the United
States senate the same year. During the
last year of Adams' administration he was
sent as minister to Colombia, but was re-
^
COMPEXniUM OF BIOGRAPHY.
called by President Jackson the following
year. He then retired to his estate at North
Bend, Ohio, a few miles below Cincinnati. In
1836 he was a candidate for the presidency,
but as there were three other candidates
the votes were divided, he receiving seventy-
three electoral votes, a majority going to
Mr. Van Buren, the Democratic candidate.
Four years later General Harrison was again
nominated by the Whigs, and elected by a
tremendous majority. The campaign was
noted for its novel features, many of which
have found a permanent place in subsequent
campaigns. Those peculiar to that cam-
paign, however, were the " log-cabin " and
"hard cider" watchwords, which produced
great enthusiasm among his followers. One
month after his inauguration he died from
an attack of pleurisy, April 4, 1841.
CHARLES A. DANA, the well-known
and widely-read journalist of New York
City, a native of Hinsdale, New Hampshire,
was born August 8, 18 19. He received
the elements of a good education in his
youth and studied for two years at Harvard
University. Owing to some disease of the
eyes he was unable to complete his course
and graduate, but was granted the degree of
A. M. notwithstanding. For some time he
was editor of the " Harbinger," and was a
regular contributor to the Boston " Chrono-
type." In 1847 he became connected with
the New York ' ' Tribune, " and continued on
the staff of that journal until 1858. In the
latter year he edited and compiled "The
Household Book of Poetry," and later, in
connection with George Ripley, edited the
"New American Cyclopaedia."
Mr. Dana, on severing his connection
with the " Tribune " in 1867, became editor
of the New York "Sun," a paper with
which he was identified for many years, and
which he made one of the leaders of thought
in the eastern part of the United States.
He wielded a forceful pen and fearlessly
attacked whatever was corrupt and unworthy
in politics, state or national. The same
year, 1867, Mr. Dana organized the New
York " Sun " Company.
During the troublous days of the war,
when the fate of the Nation depended upon
the armies in the field, Mr. Dana accepted
the arduous and responsible position of
assistant secretary of war, and held the
position during the greater part of 1863
and 1864. He died October 17, 1897.
ASA GRAY was recognized throughout the
scientific world as one of the ablest
and most eminent of botanists. He was
born at Paris, Oneida county, New York,
November 18, 18 10. He received his medi-
cal degree at the Fairfield College of Physi-
cians and Surgeons, in Herkimer county,
New York, and studied botany with the late
Professor Torrey, of New York. He was
appointed botanist to the Wilkes expedition
in 1834, but declined the offer and became
professor of natural history in Harvard Uni-
versity in 1S42. He retired from the active
duties of this post in 1S73, and in 1874 he
was the regent of the Smithsonian Institu-
tion at Washington, District of Columbia.
Dr. Gray wrote several books on the sub-
ject of the many sciences of which he was
master. In 1836 he published his "Ele-
ments of Botany," "Manual of Botany" in
1S48; the unfinished "Flora of North
America," by himself and Dr. Torrey, the
publication of which commenced in 1S3S.
There is another of his unfinished works
called "Genera Boreaii-x^mericana, " pub-
lished in 184S, and the "Botany of the
United States Pacific Exploring Expedition
in 1S54." He wrote many elaborate papers
COM!' li.Xni I'M OF lilOGRAPlir.
89
on the botany of the west and southwest
that were published in the Smithsonian Con-
tributions, Memoirs, etc., of the American
Academy of Arts and Sciences, of which in-
stitution he was president for ten years.
He was also the author of many of the
government reports. ' ' How Plants Grow, "
"Lessons in Botany," " Structural and Sys-
tematic Botany," are also works from his
ready pen.
Dr. Gray published in 1861 his "Free
Examination of Darwin's Treatise" and his
" Darwiniana," in 1876. Mr. Gray was
elected July 29, 1878, to a membership in
the Instituteof France, Academy of Sciences.
His death occurred at Cambridge, Massa-
chusetts, January 30, 1889.
WILLIAM MAXWELL EVARTS was
one of the greatest leaders of the
American bar. He was born in Boston,
Massachusetts, February 6, 1818, and grad-
uated from Yale College in 1837. He took
up the study of law, which he practiced in
the city of New York and won great renown
as an orator and advocate. He affiliated
with the Republican party, which he joined
soon after its organization. He was the
leading counsel employed for the defense of
President Johnson in his trial for impeach-
ment before the senate in April and May of
1868.
In July, 1868, Mr. Evarts was appointed
attorney-general of the United States, and
served until March 4, 1869. He was one
of the three lawyers who were selected by
President Grant in 1871 to defend the inter-
ests of the citizens of the United States be-
fore the tribunal of arbitration which met
at Geneva in Switzerland to settle the con-
troversy over the " Alabama Claims."
He was one of the most eloquent advo-
cates in the United States, and many of his
public addresses have been preserved and
published. He was appointed secretary of
state March 7, 1S77, by President Hayes,
and served during the Hayes administration.
He was elected senator from the state of
New York January 21, 1885, and at once
took rank among the ablest statesmen in
Congress, and the prominent part he took
in the discussion of public questions gave
him a national reputation.
I
OHN WANAMAKER.— The life of this
kJ great merchant demonstrates . the fact
that the great secret of rising from the ranks
is, to-day, as in the past ages, not so much the
ability to make money, as to save it, or in
other words, the ability to live well within
one's income. Mr. Wanamaker was born in
Philadelphia in 1838. He started out in
life working in a brickyard for a mere pit-
tance, and left that position to work in a
book store as a clerk, where he earned
the sum of $5.00 per month, and later on
was in the employ of a clothier where he
received twenty-five cents a week more.
He was only fifteen years of age at that
time, but was a " money-getter" by instinct,
and laid by a small sum for a possible rainy
day. By strict attention to business, com-
bined with natural ability, he was promoted
many times, and at the age of twenty he
had saved $2,000. After several months
vacation in the south, he returned to Phila-
delphia and became a master brick mason,
but this was too tiresome to the young man,
and he opened up the " Oak Hall " clothing
store in April, 1861, at Philadelphia. The
capital of the firm was rather limited, but
finally, after many discouragements, they
laid the foundations of one of the largest
business houses in the world. The estab-
lishment covers at the present writing some
fourteen acres of floor space, and furnishes
«J0
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY.
employment for five thousand persons. Mr.
Wanamaker was also a great church worker,
and built a church that cost him $60,000,
and he was superintendent of the Sunday-
school, which had a membership of over
three thousand children. He steadily re-
fused to run for mayor or congress and the
only public office that he ever held was that
of postmaster-general, under the Harrison
administration, and here he exhibited his
extraordinary aptitude for comprehending
the details of public business.
DAVID BENNETT HILL, a Demo-
cratic politician who gained a na-
tional reputation, was born August 29,
j 843, at Havana, New York. He was
educated at the academy of his native town,
and removed to Elmira, New York, in 1862,
where he studied law. He was admitted to
the bar in 1864, in which year he was ap-
pointed city attorney. Mr. Hill soon gained
a considerable practice, becoming prominent
in his profession. He developed a taste for
politics in which he began to take an active
part in the different campaigns and became
the recognized leader of the local Democ-
racy. In 1S70 he was elected a member of
the assembly and was re-elected in 1872.
While a member of this assembly he formed
the acquaintance of Samuel J. Tilden, after-
ward governor of the state, who appointed
Mr. Hill, W. M. Evarts and Judge Hand
as a committee to provide a uniform charter
for the different cities of the state. The
pressure of professional engagements com-
pelled him to decline to serve. In 1877
Mr. Hill was made chairman of the Demo-
cratic state convention at Albany, his elec-
tion being due to the Tilden wing of the
party, and he he'd the same position again
in 1SS1. He served one term as alderman
in Eimira, at the expiration of which term,
in 1882, he was elected mayor of Elmira,
and in September of the same year was
nominated for lieutenant-governor on the
Democratic state ticket. He was success-
ful in the campaign and two years later,
when Grover Cleveland was elected to the
presidency, Mr. Hill succeeded to the gov-
ernorship for the unexpired term. In 1885
he was elected governor for a full term of
three years, at the end of which he was re-
elected, his term expiring in 1891, in which
year he was elected United States senator.
In the senate he became a conspicuous
figure and gained a national reputation.
ALLEN G. THURMAN. — " The noblest
Roman of them all " was the title by
which Mr. Thurman was called by his com-
patriots of the Democracy. He was the
greatest leader of the Democratic party in
his day and held the esteem of all the
people, regardless of their political creeds.
Mr. Thurman was born November 13, 18 13,
at Lynchburg, Virginia, where he remained
until he had attained the age of six years,
when he moved to Ohio. He received an
academic education and after graduating,
took up the study of law, was admitted to
the bar in 1835, and achieved a brilliant
success in that line. In political life he was
very successful, and his first office was that
of representative of the state of Ohio in the
twenty-ninth congress. He was elected
judge of the supreme court of Ohio in 1851,
and was chief justice of the same from 1854
to 1856. In 1867 he was the choice of the
Democratic party of his state for governor,
and was elected to the United States senate
in 1869 to succeed Benjamin F. Wade,
and was re-elected to the same position in
1874. He was a prominent figure in the
senate, until the expiration of his service in
1 88 1. Mr. Thurman was also one of the
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPI1T.
91
principal presidental possibilities in the
Democratic convention held at St. Louis in
1876. In 1888 he was the Democratic
nominee for vice-president on the ticket
with Grover Cleveland, but was defeated.
Allen Granberry Thurman died December
12, 1895, a t Columbus, Ohio.
CHARLES FARRAR BROWNE, better
known as " Artemus Ward," was born
April 26, 1834, in the village of Waterford,
Maine. He was thirteen years old at the
time of his father's death, and about a year
later he was apprenticed to John M. Rix,
who published the "Coos County Dem-
ocrat " at Lancaster, New Hampshire. Mr.
Browne remained with him one year, when,
hearing that his brother Cyrus was starting
a paper at Norway, Maine, he left Mr. Rix
and determined to get work on the new
paper. He worked for his brother until the
failure of the newspaper, and then went to
Augusta, Maine, where he remained a few
weeks and then removed to Skowhegan,
and secured a position on the "Clarion."
But either the climate or the work was not
satisfactory to him, for one night he silently
left the town and astonished his good mother
by appearing unexpectedly at home. Mr.
Browne then received some letters of recom-
mendation to Messrs. Snow and Wilder, of
Boston, at whose office Mrs. Partington's
(B. P. Shillaber) " Carpet Bag " was printed,
and he was engaged and remained there for
three years. He then traveled westward in
search of employment and got as far as Tif-
fin, Ohio, where he found employment in the
office of the "Advertiser," and remained
there some months when he proceeded to
Toledo, Ohio, where he became one of the
staff of the "Commercial," which position
he held until 1S57. Mr. Browne next went
co Cleveland, Ohio, and became the local
editor of the "Plain Dealer," and it was in
the columns of this paper that he published
his first articles and signed them " Artemus
Ward." In i860 he went to New York and
became the editor of " Vanity Fair," but
the idea of lecturing here seized him, and he
was fully determined to make the trial.
Mr. Browne brought out his lecture, "Babes
in the Woods " at Clinton Hall, December
23, 1 861, and in 1862 he published his first
book entitled, " Artemus Ward; His Book."
He attained great fame as a lecturer and his
lectures were not confined to America, for.
he went to England in 1866, and became
exceedingly popular, both as a lecturer and
a contributor to "Punch." Mr. Browne
lectured for the last time January 23, 1867.
He died in Southampton, England, March
6, 1867.
THURLOW WEED, a noted journalist
and politician, was born in Cairo, New
York, November 15, 1797. He learned the
printer's trade at the age of twelve years,
and worked at this calling for several years
in various villages in central New York. He
served as quartermaster-sergeant during the
war of 18 12. In 1818 he established the
"Agriculturist," at Norwich, New York,
and became editor of the "Anti-Masonic
Enquirer," at Rochester, in 1826. In the
same year he was elected to the legislature
and re-elected in 1830, when he located in
Albany, New York, and there started the
" Evening Journal," and conducted it in op-
position to the Jackson administration and
the nullification doctrines of Calhoun. He
became an adroit party manager, and was
instrumental in promoting the nominations
of Harrison, Taylor and Scott for the pres-
idency. In 1856 and in i860 he threw his
support to W. H. Seward, but when defeat-
ed in his object, he gave cordial support to
92
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY.
Fremont and Lincoln. Mr. Lincoln pre-
veiled upon him to visit the various capitals
of Europe, where he proved a valuable aid
tc the administration in moulding the opin-
ions of the statesmen of that continent
favorable to the cause of the Union.
Mr. Weed's connection with the ' ' Even-
ing Journal " was severed in 1862, when he
settled in New York, and for a time edited
the "Commercial Advertiser." In 1868 he
retired from active life. His " Letters from
Europe and the West Indies," published in
1866, together with some interesting " Rem-
iniscences," published in the "Atlantic
Monthly," in 1870, an autobiography, and
portions of an extensive correspondence will
be of great value to writers of the political
history of the United States. Mr. Weed
died in New York, November 22, 1882.
WILLIAM COLLINS WHITNEY,
one of the prominent Democratic
politicians of the country and ex-secretary of
the navy, was born July 5th, 1841, at Con-
way, Massachusetts, and received his edu-
cation at Williston Seminary, East Hamp-
ton, Massachusetts. Later he attended
Yale College, where he graduated in 1863,
and entered the Harvard Law School, which
he left in 1864. Beginning practice in New
York city, he soon gained a reputation as
an able lawyer. He made his first appear-
ance in public affairs in 1871, when he was
active in organizing a young men's Demo-
cratic club. In 1872 he was the recognized
leader of the county Democracy and in 1875
was appointed corporation counsel for the
city of New York. He resigned the office,
1882, to attend to personal interests and on
March 5, 1885, he was appointed secretary
of the navy by President Cleveland. Under
his administration the navy of the United
States rapidly rose in rank among the navies
of the world. When he retired from office
in 1889, the vessels of the United States
navy designed and contracted for by him
were five double-turreted monitors, two
new armor-clads, the dynamite cruiser "Ve-
suvius," and five unarmored steel and iron
cruisers.
Mr. Whitney was the leader of the
Cleveland forces in the national Democratic
convention of 1892.
EDWIN FORREST, the first and great-
est American tragedian, was born in
Philadelphia in 1806. His father was a
tradesman, and some accounts state that he
had marked out a mercantile career for his
son, Edwin, while others claim that he had
intended him for the ministry. His wonder-
ful memory, his powers of mimicry and his
strong musical voice, however, attracted at-
tention before he was eleven years old, and
at that age he made his first appearance on
the stage. The costume in which he appeared
was so ridiculous that he left the stage in a
fit of anger amid a roar of laughter from
the audience. This did not discourage him,
however, and at the age of fourteen, after
some preliminary training in elocution, he
appeared again, this time as Young Norvel,
and gave indications of future greatness.
Up to 1826 he played entirely with strolling
companies through the south and west, but
at that time he obtained an engagement at
the Bowery Theater in New York. From
that time his fortune was made. His man-
ager paid him $40 per night, and it is stated
that he loaned Forrest to other houses from
time to time at $200 per night. His great
successes were Virginius, Damon, Othello,
Coriolanus, William Tell, Spartacus and
Lear. He made his first appearance in
London in 1836, and his success was un-
questioned from the start. In 1845, on his
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY.
93
second appearance in London, he became
involved in a bitter rivalry with the great
English actor, Macready, who had visited
America two years before. The result was
that Forrest was hissed from the stage, and
it was charged that Macready had instigated
the plot. Forrest's resentment was so bitter
that he himself openly hissed Macready
from his box a few nights later. In 1848
Macready again visited America at a time
when American admiration and enthusiasm
for Forrest had reached its height. Macready
undertook to play at Astor Place Opera
House in May, 1849, but was hooted off the
stage. A few nights later Macready made a
second attempt to play at the same house,
thistime under police protection. The house
was filled with Macready 's friends, but the vio-
olence of the mob outside stopped the play,
and the actor barely escaped with his life.
Upon reading the riot act the police and
troops were assaulted with stones. The
troops replied, first with blank cartridges,
and then a volley of lead dispersed the
mob, leaving thirty men dead or seriously
wounded.
After this incident Forrest's popularity
waned, until in 1855 he retired from the
stage. He re-appeared in i860, however,
and probably the most remunerative period
of his life was between that date and the
close of the Civil war. His last appearance
on the stage was at the Globe Theatre,
Boston, in Richelieu, in April, 1872, his
death occurring December 12 of that year.
NOAH PORTER, D. D., LL. D., was
one of the most noted educators, au-
thors and scientific writers of the United
States. He was born December 14, 181 1,
at Farmington, Connecticut, graduated at
Yale College in 1 83 1 , and was master of
Hopkins Grammar School at New Haven in
l8 3'-33- During 1833-35 he was a tutor
at Yale, and at the same time was pursuing
his theological studies, and became pastor
of the Congregational church at New Mil-
ford, Connecticut, in April, 1836. Dr.
Porter removed to Springfield, Massachu-
setts, in 1843, and was chosen professor of
metaphysics and moral philosophy at Yale
in 1846. He spent a year in Germany in
the study of modern metaphysics in 1853—
54, and in 1871 he was elected president of
Yale College. He resigned the presidency
in 1885, but still remained professor of met-
aphysics and moral philosophy. He was
the author of a number of works, among
which are the following: " Historical Es-
say," written in commemoration of the 200th
aniversary of the settlement of the town of
Farmington; " Educational System of the
Jesuits Compared;" "The Human Intel-
lect," with an introduction upon psychology
and the soul; " Books and Reading;"
'American Colleges and the American Pub-
lic;" " Elementsof Intellectual Philosophy;"
" The Science of Nature versus the Science
of Man;" "Science and Sentiment;" "Ele-
ments of Moral Science." Dr. Porter was
the principal editor of the revised edition of
Webster's Dictionary in 1864, and con-
tributed largely to religious reviews and
periodicals. Dr. Porter's death occurred
March 4, 1892, at New Haven, Connecticut.
JOHN TYLER, tenth president of the
United States, was born in Charles City
county, Virginia, March 29, 1790, and was
the son of Judge John Tyler, one of the
most distinguished men of his day.
When but twelve years of age young
John Tyler entered William and Mary Col-
lege, graduating from there in 1806. He
took up the study of law and was admitted
to the bar in 1809, when but nineteen years
94
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY.
of age. On attaining his majority in 1 8 1 1
he was elected a member of the state legis-
lature, and for five years held that position
by the almost unanimous vote of his county.
He was elected to congress in 1816, and
served in that body for four years, after
which for two years he represented his dis-
trict again in the legislature of the state.
While in congress, he opposed the United
States bank, the protective policy and in-
ternal improvements by the United States
government. 1825 saw Mr. Tyler governor
of Virginia, but in 1827 he was chosen
member of the United States senate, and
held that office for nine years. He therein
opposed the administration of Adams and
the tariff bill of 1828, sympathized with the
nullifers of South Carolina and was the
only senator who voted against the Force
bill for the suppression of that state's insip-
ient rebellion. He resigned his position as
senator on account of a disagreement with
the legislature of his state in relation to his
censuring President Jackson. He retired to
Williamsburg, Virginia, but being regarded
as a martyr by the Whigs, whom, hereto-
fore, he had always opposed, was supported
by many of that party for the vice-presi-
dency in 1836. He sat in the Virginia leg-
islature as a Whig in 1839-40, and was a
delegate to the convention of that party in
i8.;9. This national convention nominated
him for the second place on the ticket with
General William H. H. Harrison, and he
was elected vice-president in November,
1840. President Harrison dying one month
after his inauguration, he was succeeded by
John Tyler. He retained the cabinet chosen
by his predecessor, and for a time moved in
harmony with the Whig party. He finally
instructed the secretary of the treasury,
Thomas Ewing, to submit to congress a bill
for the incorporation of a fiscal bank of the
United States, which was passed by con-
gress, but vetoed by the president on ac-
count of some amendments he considered
unconstitutional. For this and other meas-
ures he was accused of treachery to his
party, and deserted by his whole cabinet,
except Daniel Webster. Things grew worse
until he was abandoned by the Whig party
formally, when Mr. Webster resigned. He
was nominated at Baltimore, in May, 1844,
at the Democratic convention, as their pres-
idential candidate, but withdrew from the
canvass, as he saw he had not succeed-
ed in gaining the confidence of his old
party. He then retired from politics until
February, 1861, when he was made presi-
dent of the abortive peace congress, which
met in Washington. He shortly after re-
nounced his allegiance to the United States
and was elected a member of the Confeder-
ate congress. He died at Richmond, Janu-
ary 17, 1862.
Mr. Tyler married, in 18 13, Miss Letitia
Christian, who died in 1842 at Washington.
June 26, 1844, he contracted a second mar-
riage, with Miss Julia Gardner, of New York.
COLLIS POTTER HUNTINGTON,
one of the great men of his time and
who has left his impress upon the history of
our national development, was born October
22, 1 82 1, at Harwinton, Connecticut.
He received a common-school education
and at the age of fourteen his spirit of get-
ting along in the world mastered his educa-
tional propensities and his father's objec-
tions and he left school. He went to Cali-
fornia in the early days and had opportunities
which he handled masterfully. Others had
the same opportunities but they did not have
his brains nor his energy, and it was he who
overcame obstacles and reaped the reward
of his genius. Transcontinental railways
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY.
95
were inevitable, but the realization of this
masterful achievement would have been de-
layed to a much later day if there had been
no Huntington. He associated himself with
Messrs. Mark Hopkins, Leland Stanford,
and Charles Crocker, and they furnished the
money necessary for a survey across the
Sierra Nevadas, secured a charter for the
road, and raised, with thegovernment's aid,
money enough to construct and equip that
railway, which at the time of its completion
was a marvel of engineering and one of the
wonders of the world. Mr. Huntington be-
came president of the Southern Pacific rail-
road, vice-president of the Central Pacific;
trustee of the Atlantic and Pacific Telegraph
Company, and a director of the Occidental
and Oriental Steamship Company, besides
being identified with many other business
enterprises of vast importance.
GEORGE A. CUSTER, a famous In-
dian fighter, was born in Ohio in 1840.
He graduated at West Point in 1 861 , an-
served in the Civil war; was at Bull Run id
1861, and was in the Peninsular campaign,
being one of General McClellan's aides-de,
camp. He fought in the battles of South
Mountain and Antietam in 1863, and was
with General Stoneman on his famous
cavalry raid. He was engaged in the battle
of Gettysburg, and was there made brevet-
major. In 1S63 was appointed brigadier-
general of volunteers. General Custer was
in many skirmishes in central Virginia in
1S63-64, and was present at the following
battles of the Richmond campaign: Wil-
derness, Todd's Tavern, Yellow Tavern, where
he wasbrevetted lieutenant-colonel ; Meadow
Bridge, Haw's Shop, Cold Harbor, Trevil-
lian Station. In the Shenandoah Valley
1 864-65 he was brevetted colonel at Opequan
Creek, and at Cedar Creek he was made
brevet major-general for gallant conduct
during the engagement. General Custer
was in command of a cavalry division in the
pursuit of Lee's army in 1865, and fought
at Dinwiddie Court House, Five Forks,
where he was made brevet brigadier-general ;
Sailors Creek and Appomattox, where he
gained additional honors and was made
brevet major-general, and was given the
command of the cavalry in the military
division of the southwest and Gulf, in 1865.
After the establishment of peace he went
west on frontier duty and performed gallant
and valuable service in the troubles with the
Indians. He was killed in the massacre on
the Little Big Horn river, South Dakota,
June 25, 1876.
DANIEL WOLSEY VOORHEES, cel-
brated as ' ' The Tall Sycamore of the
Wabash," was born September 26, 1827,
in Butler county, Ohio. When he was two-
months old his parents removed to Fount-
ain county, Indiana. He grew to manhood
on a farm, engaged in all the arduous work
pertaining to rural life. In 1845 he entered
the Indiana Asbury University, now the De
Pauw, from which he graduated in 1849.
He took up the study of law at Crawfords-
ville, and in 1851 began the practice of his
profession at Covington, Fountain county,
Indiana. He became a law partner of
United States Senator Hannegan, of Indi-
ana, in 1852, and in 1856 he was an unsuc-
cessful candidate for congress. In the fol-
lowing year he took up his residence in Terre
Haute, Indiana. He was United States
district attorney for Indiana from 1857 until
1 86 1, and he had during this period been
elected to congress, in i860. Mr. Voorhees
was re-elected to congress in 1862 and 1S64,
but he was unsuccessful in the election of
1866. However, he was returned to con-
96
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY
gress in 1868, where he remained until 1874,
having been re-elected twice. In 1877 he
was appointed United States senator from
Indiana to fill a vacancy caused by the death
of O. P. Morton, and at the end of the term
.was elected for the ensuing term, being re-
elected in 1885 and in 1891 to the same of-
fice. He served with distinction on many
of the committees, and took a very prom-
inent part in the discussion of all the im-
portant legislation of his time. His death
occurred in August, 189 .
ALEXANDER GRAHAM BELL, fa-
mous as one of the inventors of the tele-
phone, was born in Edinburgh, Scotland,
March 3rd, 1847. He received his early
education in the high school and later he
attended the university, and was specially
trained to follow his grandfather's profes-
sion, that of removing impediments of
speech. He emigrated to the United States
in 1872, and introduced into this country
his father's invention of visible speech in the
institutions for deaf-mutes. Later he was
appointed professor of vocal physiology in
the Boston University. He wcrked for
many years during his leisure hours on his
telephonic discovery, and finally perfected
it and exhibited it publicly, before it had
reached the high state of perfection to which
he brought it. His first exhibition of it was
at the Centennial Exhibition that was held
in Philadelphia in 1876. Its success is now
established throughout the civilized world.
In 18S2 Prof. Bell received a diploma and
the decoration of the Legion of Honor from
the Academy of Sciences of France.
WILLIAM HICKLING PRESCOTT,
the justly celebrated historian and
author, was a native of Salem, Massachu-
setts, and was born May 4, 1796. He was
the son of Judge William Prescott and the
grandson of the hero of Bunker Hill, Colonel
William Prescott.
Our subject in 1808 removed with the
family to Boston, in the schools of which
city he received his early education. He
entered Harvard College as a sophomore in
181 1, having been prepared at the private
classical college of Rev. Dr. J. S. J. Gardi-
jner. The following year he received an in-
ury in his left eye which made study
through life a matter of difficulty. He
graduated in 1814 with high "honors in the
classics and belle lettres. He spent several
months on the Azores Islands, and later
visited England, France and Italy, return-
ing home in 1817. In June, 181S, he
founded a social and literary club at Boston
for which he edited "The Club Room," a
periodical doomed to but a short life. May
4, 1820, he married Miss Susan Amory.
He devoted several years after that event to
a thorough study of ancient and modern
history and literature. As the fruits of his
labors he published several well written
essays upon French and Italian poetry and
romance in the " North American Review."
January 19, 1826, he decided to take up his
first great historical work, the " History of
the Reign of Ferdinand and Isabella." To
this he gave the labor of ten years, publish-
ing the same December 25, 1837. Although
placed at the head of all American authors,
so diffident was Prescott of his literary merit
that although he had four copies of this
work printed for his own convenience, he
hesitated a long time before giving it to the
public, and it was only by the solicitation of
friends, especially of that talented Spanish
scholar, George Ticknor, that he was in-
duced to do so. Soon the volumes were
translated into French, Italian, Dutch and
German, and the work was recognized
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY.
97
throughout the world as one of the most
meritorious of historical compositions. In
1843 he published the "Conquest of Mexi-
co," and in 1847 the "Conquest of Peru."
Two years later there came from his pen a
volume of " Biographical and Critical Mis-
cellanies." Going abroad in the summer of
1850, he was received with great distinction
in the literary circles of London, Edinburgh,
Paris, Antwerp and Brussels. Oxford Uni-
versity conferred the degree of D. C. L.
upon him. In 1855 he issued two volumes
of his "History of the Reign of Philip the
Second," and a third in 1858. In the
meantime he edited Robertson*s "Charles
the Fifth," adding a history of the life of
that monarch after his abdication. Death
cut short his work on the remaining volumes
of " Philip the Second," coming to him at
Boston, Massachusetts, May 28, 1859.
OLIVER HAZARD PERRY, a noted
American commodore, was born in
South Kingston, Rhode Island, August 23,
1785. He saw his first service as a mid-
shipman in the United States navy in April,
1799. He cruised with his father, Captain
Christopher Raymond Perry, in the West In-
dies for about two years. In 1804. he was
in the war against Tripoli, and was made
lieutenant in 1 807. At the opening of hostili-
ties with Great Britain in 1S12 he was given
command of a fleet of gunboats on the At-
lantic coast. At his request he was trans-
ferred, a year later, to Lake Ontario, where
he served under Commodore Chauncey, and
took an active part in the attack on Fort
George. He was ordered to fit out a squad-
ron on Lake Erie, which he did, building
most of his vessels from the forests along
the shore, and by the summer of 1 8 1 3 he had
a fleet of nine vessels at Presque Isle, now
Erie, Pennsylvania September 10th he
attacked and captured the British fleet near
Put-in-Bay, thus clearing the lake of hostile
ships. His famous dispatch is part of his
fame, " We have met the enemy, and they
are ours." He co-operated with Gen. Har-
rison, and the success of the campaign in
the northwest was largely due to his victory.
The next year he was transferred to the Po-
tomac, and assisted in the defense of Balti-
more. After the war he was in constant
service with the various squadrons in cruising
in all parts of the world. He died of yellow
fever on the Island of Trinidad, August 23,
1 8 19. His remains were conveyed to New-
port, and buried there, and an imposing
obelisk was erected to his memory by the
State of Rhode Island. A bronze statue
was also erected in his honor, the unveiling
taking place in 1885.
JOHN PAUL JONES, though a native
of Scotland, was one of America's most
noted fighters during the Revolutionary war.
He was born July 6, 1747. His father was
a gardener, but the young man soon be-
came interested in a seafaring life and at
the age of twelve he was apprenticed to a
sea captain engaged in the American trade.
His first voyage landed him in Virginia,
where he had a brother who had settled
there several years prior. The failure of
the captain released young Jones from his
apprenticeship bonds, and he was engaged
as third mate of a vessel engaged in the
slave trade. He abandoned this trade after
a few years, from his own sense of disgrace.
He took passage from Jamaica for Scotland
in 1768, and on the voyage both the captain
and the mate died and he was compelled to
take command of the vessel for the re-
mainder of the voyage. He soon after
became master of the vessel. He returned
to Virginia about 1773 to settle up the estate
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY.
of his brother, and at this time added the
name "Jones," having previously been
known as John Paul. He settled down in
Virginia, but when the war broke out in
1775 he offered his services to congress and
was appointed senior lieutenant of the flag-
ship "Alfred," on which he hoisted the
American flag with his own hands, the first
vessel that had ever carried a flag of the
new nation. He was afterward appointed
to the command of the " Alfred," and later
of the "Providence," in each of which ves-
sels he did good service, as also in the
"Ranger," to the command of which he
was later appointed. The fight that made
him famous, however, was that in which he
captured the " Serapis," off the coast of
Scotland. He was then in command of the
"Bon Homme Richard," which had been
fitted out for him by the French government
and named by Jones in honor of Benjamin
Franklin, or "Good Man Richard," Frank-
lin being author of the publication known
as " Poor Richard's Almanac." The fight
between the " Richard" and the "Serapis"
lasted three hours, all of which time the
vessels were at close range, and most of the
time in actual contact. Jones' vessel was
on fire several times, and early in the en-
gagement two of his guns bursted, rendering
the battery useless. Also an envious officer
of the Alliance, one of Jones' own fleet,
opened fire upon the " Richard " at a crit-
ical time, completely disabling the vessel.
Jones continued the fight, in spite of coun-
sels to surrender, and after dark the " Ser-
apis " struck her colors, and was hastily
boarded by Jones and his crew, while the
"Richard" sank, bows first, after the
wounded had been taken en board the
"Serapis." Most of the other vessels of
the fleet of which the " Serapis" was con-
voy, surrendered, and were taken with the
"Serapis" to France, where Jones was
received with greatest honors, and the king
presented him with an elegant sword and
the cross of the Order of Military Merit.
Congress gave him a vote of thanks and
made him commander of a new ship, the
"America," but the vessel was afterward
given to France and Jones never saw active
sea service again. He came to America again,
in 1787, after the close of the war, and was
voted a gold medal by congress. He went to
Russia and was appointed rear-admiral and
rendered service of value against the Turks,
but on account of personal enmity of the fav-
orites of the emperor he was retired on a pen-
sion. Failing to collect this, he returned to
France, where he died, July 18, 1792.
THOMAS MORAN, the well-known
painter of Rocky Mountain scenery,
was born in Lancashire, England, in 1837.
He came to America when a child, and
showing artistic tastes, he was apprenticed
to a wood engraver in Philadelphia. Three
years later he began landscape painting, and
his style soon began to exhibit signs of genius.
His first works were water-colors, and
though without an instructor he began the
use of oils, he soon found it necessary to
visit Europe, where he gave particular at-
tention to the works of Turner. He joined
the Yellowstone Park exploring expedition
and visited the Rocky Mountains in 1871
and again in 1873, making numerous
sketches of the scenery. The most note-
worthy results were his "Grand Canon of
the Yellowstone," and " The Chasm of the
Colorado," which were purchased by con-
gress at $10,000 each, the first of which is
undoubtedly the finest landscape painting
produced in this country. Mr. Moran has
subordinated art to nature, and the subjects
he has chosen leave little ground for fault
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY.
101
finding on that account. "The Mountain
of the Holy Cross," "The Groves Were
God's First Temples," " The Cliffs of Green
River," " The Children of the Mountain,"
"The Ripening of the Leaf," and others
have given him additional fame, and while
they do not equal in grandeur the first
mentioned, in many respects from an artis-
tic standpoint they are superior.
L ELAND STANFORD was one of the
greatest men of the Pacific coast and
also had a national reputation. He was
born March 9, 1824, in Albany county, New
York, and passed his early life on his
father's farm. He attended the local
schools of the county and at the age of
twenty began the study of law. He
entered the law office of Wheaton, Doolittle
and Hadley, at Albany, in 1845, an( ^ a ^ ew
years later he moved to Port Washington,
Wisconsin, where he practiced law four
years with moderate success. In 1852 Mr.
Stanford determined to push further west,
and, accordingly went to California, where
three of his brothers were established in
business in the mining towns. They took
Leland into partnership, giving him charge
of a branch stcre at Michigan Bluff, in
Placer county. There he developed great
business ability and four years later started
a mercantile house of his own in San Fran-
cisco, which soon became one of the most
substantial houses on the coast. On the
formation of the Republican party he inter-
ested himself in politics, and in i860 was
sent as a delegate to the convention that
nominated Abraham Lincoln. In the
autumn of 1861 he was elected, by an im-
mense majority, governor of California.
Prior to his election as governor he had
been chosen president of the newly-orga-
nized Central Pacific Railroad Company,
6
and after leaving the executive chair he de-
voted all of his time to the construction of
the Pacific end of the transcontinental rail-
way. May 10, 1869, Mr. Stanford drove
the last spike of the Central Pacific road,
thus completing the route across the conti-
nent. He was also president of the Occi-
dental and Oriental Steamship Company.
He had but one son, who died of typhoid
fever, and as a monument to his child he
founded 'the university which bears his son's
name, Leland Stanford, Junior, University.
Mr. Stanford gave to this university eighty-
three thousand acres of land, the estimated
value of which is $8,000,000, and the entire
endowment is $20,000,000. In 18S5 Mr.
Stanford was elected United Stales senator
as a Republican, to succeed J. T. Farley, a
Democrat, and was re-elected in 1S91. His
death occurred June 20, 1894, at Palo Alto,
California.
STEPHEN DECATUR, a famous com-
modore in the United States navy, was
born in Maryland in 1779. He entered the
naval service in 1798. In 1804, when the
American vessel Philadelphia had been run
aground and captured in the harbor of Trip-
oli, Decatur, at the head of a few men,
boarded her and burned her in the face of
the guns from the city defenses. For this
daring deed he was made captain. He was
given command of the frigate United States
at the breaking out of the war of 18 12, and
in October of that year he captured the
British frigate Macedonian, and was re-
warded with a gold medal by congress. Af-
ter the close of the war he was sent as com-
mander of a fleet of ten vessels to chastise
the dey of Algiers, who was preying upon
American commerce with impunity and de-
manding tribute and ransom for the release
of American citizens captured. Decatur
102
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY.
captured a number of Algerian vessels, and
compelled the dey to sue for peace. He
was noted for his daring and intrepidity,
and his coolness in the face of danger, and
helped to bring the United States navy into
favor with the people and congress as a
means of defense and offense in time of
war. He was killed in a duel by Commo-
dore Barron, March 12, 1820.
TAMES KNOX POLK, the eleventh
<J president of the United States, 1845 to
1849, was born November 2, 1795, in Meck-
lenburg county, North Carolina, and was
the eldest child of a family of six sons. He
removed with his father to the Valley of the
Duck River, in Tennessee, in 1806. He
attended the common schools and became
very proficient in the lower branches of
education, and supplemented this with
a course in the Murfreesboro Academy,
which he entered in 18 13 and in the autumn
of 18 1 5 he became a student in the sopho-
more class of the University of North Caro-
lina, at Chapel Hill, and was graduated in
181 8. He then spent a short time in re-
cuperating his health and then proceeded to
Nashville, Tennessee, where he took up the
study of law in the office of Felix Grundy.
After the completion of his law studies he
was admitted to the bar and removed to
Columbia, Maury county, Tennessee, and
started in the active practice of his profes-
sion. Mr. Polk was a Jeffersonian " Re-
publican " and in 1823 he was elected to the
legislature of Tennessee. He was a strict
constructionist and did not believe that the
general government had the power to carry
on internal improvements in the states, but
deemed it important that it should have that
power, and wanted the constitution amended
to that effect. But later on he became
alarmed lest the general government might
become strong enough to abolish slavery
and therefore gave his whole support to the
" State's Rights" movement, and endeavored
to check the centralization of power in the
general government. Mr. Polk was chosen
a member of congress in 1825, and held that
office until 1839. He then withdrew, as he
was the successful gubernatorial candidate
of his state. He had become a man of
great influence in the house, and, as the
leader of the Jackson party in that body,
weilded great influence in the election of
General Jackson to the presidency. He
sustained the president in all his measures
and still remained in the house after Gen-
eral Jackson had been succeeded by Martin
Van Buren. He was speaker of the house
during five sessions of congress. He was
elected governor of Tennessee by a large
majority and took the oath of office at Nash-
ville, October 4, 1839. He was a candidate
for re-election but was defeated by Governor
Jones, the Whig candidate. In 1844 the
most prominent question in the election was
the annexation of Texas, and as Mr. Polk
was the avowed champion of this cause he
was nominated for president by the pro-
slavery wing of the democratic party, was
elected by a large majority, and was inaug-
urated March 4, 1845. President Polk
formed a very able cabinet, consisting of
James Buchanan, Robert J. Walker, Will-
iam L. Marcy, George Bancroft, Cave John-
son, and John Y. Mason. The dispute re-
garding the Oregon boundary was settled
during his term of office and a new depart-
ment was added to the list of cabinet po-
sitions, that of the Interior. The low tariff
bill of 1846 was carried and the financial
system of the country was reorganized. It
was also during President Polk's term that
the Mexican war was successfully conducted,
which resulted in the acquisition of Califor-
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY.
103
nia and New Mexico. Mr. Polk retired from
the presidency March 4, 1S49, after having
declined a re-nomination, and was succeeded
by General Zachary Taylor, the hero of the
Mexican war. Mr. Polk retired to private
life, to his home in Nashville, where he died
at the age of fifty-four on June 9, 1849.
ANNA DICKINSON (Anna Elizabeth
Dickinson), a noted lecturer and pub-
lic speaker, was born at Philadelphia, Oc-
tober 28, 1842. Her parents were Quakers,
and she was educated at the Friends' free
schools in her native city. She early man-
ifested an inclination toward elocution and
public speaking, and when, at the age of 1 8,
she found an opportunity to appear before
a national assemblage for the discussion of
woman's rights, she at once established her
reputation as a public speaker. From i860
to the close of the war and during the ex-
citing period of reconstruction, she was one
of the most noted and influential speakers
before the American public, and her popu-
larity was unequaled by that of any of her
sex. A few weeks after the defeat and
death of Colonel Baker at Ball's Bluff, Anna
Dickinson, lecturing in New York, made
the remarkable assertion, "Not the incom-
petency of Colonel Baker, but the treachery
of General McClellan caused the disaster at
Ball's Bluff." She was hissed and hooted
off the stage. A year later, at the same
hall and with much the same class of audi-
tors, she repeated the identical words, and
the applause was so great and so long con-
tinued that it was impossible to go on with
her lecture for more than half an hour. The
change of sentiment had been wrought by
the reverses and dismissal of McClellan and
his ambition to succeed Mr. Lincoln as presi-
dent.
Ten years after the close of the war, Anna
Dickinson was not heard of on the lec-
ture platform, and about that time she made
an attempt to enter the dramatic profession,
but after appearing a number of times in dif-
ferent plays she was pronounced a failure.
ROBERT J. BURDETTE.— Some per-
sonal characteristics of Mr. Burdette
were quaintly given by himself in the follow-
ing words: "Politics? Republican after
the strictest sect. Religion ? Baptist. Per-
sonal appearance ? Below medium height,
and weigh one hundred and thirty- five
pounds, no shillings and no pence. Rich ?
Not enough to own a yacht. Favorite read-
ing? Poetry and history — know Longfellow
by heart, almost. Write for magizines ?
Have mo:e ' declined with thanks ' letters
than would fill a trunk. Never able to get
into a magazine with a line. Care about it?
Mad as thunder. Think about starting a
magazine and rejecting everbody's articles
except my own." Mr. Burdette was born
at Greensborough, Pennsylvania, in 1844.
He served through the war of the rebellion
under General Banks "on an excursion
ticket" as he felicitously described it, "good
both ways, conquering in one direction and
running in the other, pay going on just the
same." He entered into journalism by the
gateway of New York correspondence for
the "Peoria Transcript," and in 1S74 went
on the "Burlington Hawkeye " of which he
became the managing editor, and the work
that he did on this paper made both him-
self and the paper famous in the world of
humor. Mr. Burdette married in 1870,
and his wife, whom he called "Her Little
Serene Highness," was to him a guiding
light until the day of her death, and it was
probably the unconscious pathos with which
he described her in his work that broke the
barriers that had kept him out of the maga-
104
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHT.
zines and secured him the acceptance of his
"Confessions" by Lippincott some years
ago, and brought him substantial fame and
recognition in the literary world.
WILLIAM DEAN HOWELLS, one
of the leading novelists of the present
century and author of a number of works
that gained for him a place in the hearts of
the people, was born March i, 1837, at
Martinsville, Belmont county, Ohio. At
the age of three years he accompanied his
father, who was a printer, to Hamilton,
Ohio, where he learned the printer's trade.
Later he was engaged on the editorial staff
of the ' ' Cincinnati Gazette " and the " Ohio
State Journal." During 1861-65 ne was
the United States consul at Venice, and
from 1S71 to 1878 he was the editor-in-
chief of the "Atlantic Monthly." As a
writer he became one of the most fertile
and readable of authors and a pleasing poet.
In 1885 he became connected with "Har-
per's Magazine." Mr. Howells was author
of the list of books that we give below:
"Venetian Life," " Italian Journeys," "No
Love Lost," " Suburban Sketches," "Their
Wedding Journey," "A Chance Acquaint-
ance," "A Foregone Conclusion," "Dr.
Breen's Practice," "A Modern Instance,"
"The Rise of Silas Lapham," "Tuscan
Cities," "Indian Summer," besides many
others. He also wrote the " Poem of Two
Friends," with J. J. Piatt in i860, and
some minor dramas: "The Drawing
Room Car," "The Sleeping Car," etc.,
that are full of exqusite humor and elegant
dialogue.
TAMES RUSSELL LOWELL was a son
<J of the Rev. Charles Lowell, and was born
at Cambridge, Massachusetts, February 22,
1 8 1 9. He graduated at Harvard College in
1S38 as class poet, and went to Harvard
Law School, from which he was graduated
in 1840, and commenced the practice of his
profession in Boston, but soon gave his un-
divided attention to literary labors. Mr.
Lowell printed, in 1841, a small volume of
poems entitled " A Year's Life," edited with
Robert Carter; in 1843, " The Pioneer," a
literary and critical magazine (monthly), and
in 1848 another book of poems, that con-
tained several directed against slavery. He
published in 1844 a volume of "Poems"
and in 1S45 " Conversations on Some
of the Old Poets," "The Vision of Sir
Launfal," " A Fable for Critics," and "The
Bigelow Papers," the latter satirical es-
says in dialect poetry directed against
slavery and the war with Mexico. In
1851-52 he traveled in Europe and re-
sided in Italy for a considerable time, and
delivered in 1854-55 a course of lectures on
the British poets, before the Lowell Insti-
tute, Boston. Mr. Lowell succeeded Long-
fellow in January, 1855, as professor of
modern languages and literature at Harvard
College, and spent another year in Emope
qualifying himself for that post. He edited
the " Atlantic Monthly " from 1857 to 1862,
and the "North American Review" from
1863 until 1872. From 1864 to 1870 he
published the following works: "Fireside
Travels," " Under the Willows," "The
Commemoration Ode," in honor of the
alumni of Harvard who had fallen in the
Civil war; "The Cathedral," two volumes
of essays; "Among My Books" and "My
Study Windows," and in 1867 he published
a new series of the " Bigelow Papers." He
traveled extensively in Europe in 1872-74,
and received in person the degree of D. C.
L. at Oxford and that of LL. D. at the
University of Cambridge, England. He
was also interested in political life and held
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY.
105
many important offices. He was United
States minister to Spain in 1877 and was
also minister to England in 1880-85. On
January 2, 1884, he was elected lord rector
of St. Andrew University in Glasgow, Scot-
land, but soon after he resigned the same.
Mr. Lowell's works enjoy great popularity
in the United States and England. He
died August 12, 1S91.
JOSEPH HENRY, one of America's
greatest scientists, was born at Albany,
New York, December 17, 1797. He was
educated in the common schools of the city
and graduated from the Albany Academy,
where he became a professor of mathemat-
ics in 1826. In 1827 he commenced a
course of investigation, which he continued
for a number of years, and the results pro-
duced had great effect on the scientific world.
The first success was achieved by producing
the electric magnet, and he next proved the
possibility of exciting magnetic energy at a
distance, and it was the invention of Pro-
fessor Henry's intensity magnet that first
made the invention of electric telegraph a
possibility. He made a statement regarding
the practicability of applying the intensity
magnet to telegraphic uses, in his article to
the "American Journal of Science " in 1831.
During the same year he produced the first
mechanical contrivance ever invented for
maintaining continuous motion by means of
electro-magnetism, and he also contrived a
machine by which signals could be made at
a distance by the use of his electro-magnet,
the signals being produced by a lever strik-
ing on a bell. Some of his electro-magnets
were of great power, one carried over a ton
and another not less than three thousand six
hundred pounds. In 1832 he discovered
that secondary currents could be produced
in a long conductor by the induction of the
primary current upon itself, and also in the
same year he produced a spark by means of
a purely magnetic induction. Professor
Henry was elected, in 1832, professor of nat-
ural philosophy in the College of New Jer-
sey, and in his earliest lectures at Princeton,
demonstrated the feasibility of the electric
telegraph. He visited Europe in 1837, and
while there he had an interview 'with Pro-
fessor Wheatstone, the inventor of the
needle magnetic telegraph. In 1846 he was
elected secretary of the Smithsonian Insti-
tution, being the first incumbent in that office,
which he held until his death. Professor
Henry was elected president of the Ameri-
can Association for the Advancement of
Science, in 1849, and of the National
Academy of Sciences. He was made chair-
man of the lighthouse board of the United
States in 1871 and held that position up to
the time of his death. He received the
honorary degree of doctor of laws from
Union College in 1829, and from Harvard
University in 1851, and his death occurred
May 13, 1878. Among his numerous works
may be mentioned the following: "Contri-
butions to- Electricity and Magnetism,"
"American Philosophic Trans," and many
articles in the "American Journal of
Science," the journal of the Franklin Insti-
tute; the proceedings of the American As-
sociation for the Advancement of Science,
and in the annual reports of the Smith-
sonian Institution from its foundation.
FRANKLIN BUCHANAN, the famous
rear-admiral of the Confederate navy
during the rebellion, was born in Baltimore,
Maryland. He became a United States
midshipman in 181 5 and was promoted
through the various grades of the service
and became a captain in 1855. Mr. Buch-
anan resigned his captaincy in order to join
106
COMPEXDILWr OF BIOGRAPHY.
the Confederate service in 1 86 1 and later he
asked to be reinstated, but his request was
refused and he then entered into the service
of the Confederate government. He was
placed in command of the frigate " Merri-
mac " after she had been fitted up as an iron-
clad, and had command of her at the time
of the battle of Hampton Roads. It was
he who had command when the " Merri-
mac" sunk the two wooden frigates, " Con-
gress " and "Cumberland," and was also
in command during part of the historical
battle of the " Merrimac " and the "Moni-
tor," where he was wounded and the com-
mand devolved, upon Lieutenant Catesby
Jones. He was created rear-admiral in the
Confederate service and commanded the
Confederate fleet in Mobile bay, which was
defeated by Admiral Farragut, August 5,
1864. Mr. Buchanan was in command of
the "Tennessee," an ironclad, and during
the engagement he lost one of his legs and
was taken prisoner in the end by the Union
fleet. After the war he settled in Talbot
county, Maryland, where he died May 1 1 ,
1 874.
RICHARD PARKS BLAND, a celebrated
American statesman, frequently called
"the father of the house," because of his
many years of service in the lower house
of congress, was born August 19, 1835,
near Hartford, Kentucky, where he received
a plain academic education. He moved,
in 1855, to Missouri, from whence he went
overland to California, afterward locating in
Virginia City, now in the state of Nevada,
but then part of the territory of Utah.
While there he practiced law, dabbled in
mines and mining in Nevada and California
for several years, and served for a time as
treasurer of Carson county, Nevada. Mr.
Bland returned to Missouri in 1865, where
he engaged in the practice of law at Rolla,
Missouri, and in 1869 removed to Lebanon,
Missouri. He began his congressional career
in 1873, when he was elected as a Demo-
crat to the forty-third congress, and he was
regularly re-elected to every congress after
that time up to the fifty-fourth, when he was
defeated for re-election, but was returned
to the fifty-fifth congress as a Silver Demo-
crat. During all his protracted service,
while Mr. Bland was always steadfast in his
support of democratic measures, yet he won
his special renown as the great advocate cf
silver, being strongly in favor of the free
and unlimited coinage of silver, and on ac-
count of his pronounced views was one of
the candidates for the presidential nomina-
tion of the Democratic party at Chicago in
1896.
FANNY DAVENPORT (F. L. G. Daven-
port) was of British birth, but she be-
longs to the American stage. She was the
daughter of the famous actor, E. L. Daven-
port, and was born in London in 1850.
She first went on the stage as a child at the
Howard Athenaeum, Boston, and her entire
life was spent upon the stage. She played
children's parts at Burton's old theater in
Chambers street, and then, in 1862, appeared
as the King of Spain in " Faint Heart Never
Won Fair Lady. " Here she attracted the
notice of Augustin Daly, the noted mana-
ger, then at the Fifth Avenue theater, who
offered her a six weeks' engagement with
her father in "London Assurance." She
afterwards appeared at the same house in a
variety of characters, and .her versatility
was favorably noticed by the critics. After
the burning of the old Fifth Avenue, the
present theater of that name was built at
Twenty-eighth street, and here Miss Daven-
port appeared in a play written for her by
COMPENDIUM OF HIOGRAPHT.
107
Mr. Daly. She scored a great success.
She then starred in this play throughout the
country, and was married to Mr. Edwin F.
Price, an actor of her company, in 1SS0.
In 1882 she went to Paris and purchased
the right to produce in America Sardou's
great emotional play, "Fedora." It was
put on at the Fourteenth Street theater in
New York, and in it she won popular favor
and became one of the most famous actresses
of her time.
H
ORACE BRIGHAM CLAFLIN, one
of the greatest merchants America has
produced, was born in Milford, Massachu-
setts, a son of John Claflin, also a mer-
chant. Young Claflin started his active life
as a clerk in his father's store, after having
been offered the opportunity of a college
education, but with the characteristic
promptness that was one of his virtues he
exclaimed, "No law or medicine for me."
He had set his heart on being a merchant,
and when his father retired he and his
brother Aaron, and his brother-in-law, Sam-
uel Daniels, conducted the business. Mr.
Claflin was not content, however, to run a
store in a town like Milford, and accordingly
opened a dry goods store at Worcester, with
his brother as a partner, but the partnership
was dissolved a year later and H. B. Claflin
assumed complete control. The business
in Worcester had been conducted on ortho-
dox principles, and when Mr. Claflin came
there and introduced advertising as a means
of drawing trade, he created considerable
animosity among the older merchants. Ten
years later he was one of the most prosper-
ous merchants. He disposed of his busi-
ness in Worcester for $30,000, and went to
New York to search for a wider field than
that of a shopkeeper. Mr. Claflin and
William M. Bulkley started in the dry goods
business there under the firm name of Bulk-
ley & Claflin, in 1843, ar >d Mr. Bulkley was
connected with the firm until 1 851, when he
retired. A new firm was then formed under
the name of Claflin, Mcllin & Co. This
firm succeeded in founding the largest dry
goods house in the world, and after weather-
ing the dangers of the civil war, during
which the house came very near going un-
der, and was saved only by the superior
business abilities of Mr. Claflin, continued to
grow. The sales of the firm amounted to
over $72,000,000 a year after the close of
the war. Mr. Claflin died November 14,
18S5.
CHARLOTTE CUSHMAN (Charlotte
Saunders Cushman), one of the most
celebrated American actresses, was born in
Boston, July 23, 18 16. She was descended
from one of the earliest Puritan families.
Her first attempt at stage work was at the
age of fourteen years in a charitable concert
given by amateurs in Boston. From this,
time her advance to the first place on the
American lyric stage was steady, until, in
1835, while singing in New Orleans, she
suddenly lost control of her voice so far as
relates to singing, and was compelled to re-
tire. She then took up the study for the
dramatic stage under the direction of Mr.
Barton, the tragedian. She soon after
made her debut as " Lady Macbeth." She
appeared in New York in September, 1S36,,
and her success was immediate. Her
"Romeo" was almost perfect, and she is
the only woman that has ever appeared in
the part of "Cardinal Wolsey." She at
different times acted as support of Forrest
and Macready. Her London engagement,
secured in 1845, after many and great dis-
couragements, proved an unqualified suc-
cess.
108
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAJ'IIV.
Her farewell appearance was at Booth's
theater, New York, November 7, 1874, in
the part of " Lady Macbeth," and after that
performance an Ode by R. H. Stoddard
was read, and a body of citizens went upon
the stage, and in their name the venerable
poet Longfellow presented her with a wreath
of laurel with an inscription to the effect
that "she who merits the palm should bear
it." From the time of her appearance as a
modest girl in a charitable entertainment
down to the time of final triumph as a tragic
queen, she bore herself with as much honor
to womanhood as to the profession she rep-
resented. Her death occurred in Boston,
February 18, 1876. By her profession she
acquired a fortune of $600,000.
NEAL DOW, one of the most prominent
temperance reformers our country has
known, was born in Portland, Me., March 20,
1804. He received his education in the
Friends Seminary, at New Bedford, Massa-
chusetts, his parents being members of that
sect. After leaving school he pursued a
mecrantile and manufacturing career for a
number of years. He was active in the
affairs of his native city, and in 1839 be-
came chief of the fire department, and in
1851 was elected mayor. He was re-elected
to the latter office in 1854. Being opposed
to the liquor traffic he was a champion of
the project of prohibition, first brought for-
ward in 1839 by James Appleton. While
■serving his first term as mayor he drafted a
bill for the "suppression of drinking houses
and tippling shops," which he took to the
legislature and which was passed without an
alteration. In 185S Mr. Dow was elected
to the legislature. On the outbreak of the
Civil war he was appointed colonel of the
Thirteenth Maine Infantry and accompanied
General Butler's expedition to New Orleans.
In 1S62 he was made brigadier-general. At
the battle of Port Hudson May 27, 1863, he
was twice wounded, and taken prisoner. He
was confined at Libby prison and Mobile
nearly a year, when, being exchanged, he
resigned, his health having given way under
the rigors of his captivity. He made sev-
eral trips to England in the interests of
temperance organization, where he addressed
large audiences. He was the candidate of
the National Prohibition party for the presi-
dency in 1880, receiving about ten thousand
votes. In 1884 he was largely instrumental
in the amendment of the constitution of
Maine, adopted by an overwhelming popular
vote, which forever forbade the manufacture
or sale of any intoxicating beverages, and
commanding the legislature to enforce the
prohibition. He died October 2, 1897.
ZACHARY TAYLOR, twelfth president
of the United States, was born in
Orange county, Virginia, September 24,
17S4. His boyhood was spent on his fath-
er's plantation and his education was lim-
ited. In 1808 he was made lieutenant of
the Seventh Infantry, and joined his regi-
ment at New Orleans. He was promoted
to captain in 18 10, and commanded at Fort
Harrison, near the present site of Terre
Haute, in 18 12, where, for his gallant de-
fense, he was brevetted major, attaining full
rank in 18 14. In 1815 he retired to an es-
tate near Louisville. In 18 16 here-entered
the army as major, and was promoted to
lieutenant-colonel and then to colonel.
Having for many years been Indian agent
over a large portion of the western country,
he was often required in Washington to give
advice and counsel in matters connected
with the Indian b ireau. He served through
the Black Hawk T ndian war of 1832, and in
1837 was ordered to the command of the
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY.
109
army in Florida, where he attacked the In-
dians in the swamps and brakes, defeated
them and ended the war. He wasbrevetted
brigadier-general and made commander-in-
chief of the army in Florida. He was as-
signed to the command of the army of the
southwest in 1840, but was soon after re-
lieved of it at his request. He was then
stationed at posts in Arkansas. In 1845 he
was ordered to prepare to protect and de-
fend Texas boundaries from invasion by
Mexicans and Indians. On the annexation
of Texas he proceeded with one thousand
five hundred men to Corpus Christi, within
the disputed territory. After reinforcement
he was ordered by the Mexican General Am-
pudia to retire beyond the Nueces river,
with which order he declined to comply.
The battles of Palo Alto and Resaca de la
Palma followed, and he crossed the Rio
Grande and occupied Matamoras May iSth.
He was commissioned major-general for this
campaign, and in September he advanced
upon the city of Monterey and captured it
after a hard fight. Here he took up winter
quarters, and when 'he was about to resume
activity in the spring he was ordered to send
the larger part of his army to reinforce
General Scott at Vera Cruz. After leaving
garrisons at various points his army was re-
duced to about five thousand, mostly fresh
recruits. He was attacked by the army of
Santa Anna at Buena Vista, February 22,
1847, an d after a severe fight completely
routed the Mexicans. He received the
thanks of congress and a gold medal for
this victory. He remained in command of
the " army of occupation " until winter,
when he returned to the United States.
In 1848 General Taylor was nominated
by the Whigs for president. He was elected
over his two opponents, Cass and Van
Buren. Great bitterness was developing in
the struggle for and against the extension of
slavery, and the newly acquired territory in
the west, and the fact that the states were
now equally divided on that question, tended
to increase the feeling. President Taylor
favored immediate admission of California
with her constitution prohibiting slavery,
and the admission of other states to be
formed out of the new territory as they
might elect as they adopted constitutions
from time to time. This policy resulted in
the " Omnibus Bill," which afterward passed
congress, though in separate bills; not, how-
ever, until after the death of the soldier-
statesman, which occurred July 9, 1S50.
One of his daughters became the wife of
Jefferson Davis.
M'
ELVILLE D. LANDON, better known
as " Eli Perkins, " author, lecturer and
humorist, was born in Eaton, New York,
September 7, 1839. He was the son of
John Landon and grandson of Rufus Lan-
don, a revolutionary soldier from Litchfield
county, Connecticut. Melville was edu-
cated at the district school and neighboring
academy, where he was prepared for the
sophomore class at Madison University. He
passed two years at the latter, when he was
admitted to Union College, and graduated
in the class of 1861, receiving the degree of
A. M., in 1862. He was, at once, ap-
pointed to a position in the treasury depart-
ment at Washington. This being about the
time of the breaking out of the war, and
before the appearance of any Union troops
at the capital, he assisted in the organiza-
tion of the " Clay Battalion," of Washing-
ton. Leaving his clerkship some time later,
he took up duties on the staff of General A.
L. Chetlain, who was in command at Mem-
phis. In 1864 he resigned from the army
and engaged in cotton planting in Arkansas
110
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY,
and Louisiana. In 1867 he went abroad,
making the tour of Europe, traversing Rus-
sia. While in the latter country his old
commander of the " Clay Battalion," Gen-
eral Cassius M. Clay, then United States
minister at St. Petersburg, made him secre-
tary of legation. In 1 87 1, on returning to
America, he published a history of the
Franco-Prussian war, and followed it with
numerous humorous writings for the public
press under the name of "Eli Perkins,"
which, with his regular contributions to the
" Commercial Advertiser," brought him into
notice, and spread his reputation as a hu-
morist throughout the country. He also pub-
lished "Saratoga in 1891," "Wit, Humor
and Pathos," " Wit and Humor of the Age,"
•' Kings of Platform and Pulpit," " Thirty
YearsofWit and Humor," " Fun and Fact,"
and " China and Japan."
LEWIS CASS, one of the most prom-
inent statesman and party leaders of his
daj', was born at Exeter, New Hampshire,
October 9, 1782. He studied law, and hav-
ing removed toZanesville, Ohio, commenced
the practice of that profession in 1802. He
entered the service of the American govern-
ment in 1812 and was made a colonel in
the army under General William Hull, and
on the surrender of Fort Maiden by that
officer was held as a prisoner. Being re-
leased in 18 13, he was promoted to the
rank of brigadier-general and in 18 14 ap-
pointed governor of Michigan Territory.
After he had held that office for some
sixteen years, negotiating, in the meantime,
many treaties with the Indians, General
Cass was made secretary of war in the cabi-
net of President Jackson, in 1831. He was,
in 1836, appointed minister to France,
which office he held for six years. In 1844
he -.as elected United States senator from
Michigan. In 1846 General Cass opposed
the Wilmot Proviso, which was an amend-
ment to a bill for the purchase of land from
Mexico, which provided that in any of the
territory acquired from that power slavery
should not exist. For this and other reasons
he was nominated as Democratic candidate
for the presidency of the United States in
1848, but was defeated by General Zachary
Taylor, the Whig candidate, having but
one hundred and thirty-seven electoral votes
to his opponent's one hundred and sixty-
three. In 1849 General Cass was re-elected
to the senate of the United States, and in
1854 supported Douglas' Kansas-Nebraska
bill. He became secretary of state in
March, 1857, under President Buchanan,
but resigned that office in December, i860.
He died June 17, 1866. The published
works of Lewis Cass, while not numerous,
are well written and display much ability.
He was one of the foremost men of his day
in the political councils of the Democratic
party, and left a reputation for high probity
and honor behind him.
DE WITT CLINTON.— Probably there
were but few men who were so popular
in their time, or who have had so much in-
fluence in moulding events as the individual
whose name honors the head of this article.
De Witt Clinton was the son of General
James Clinton, and a nephew of Governor
George Clinton, who was the fourth vice-
president of the United States. He was a
native of Orange county, New York, born at
Little Britain, March 2, 1769. He gradu-
ated from Columbia College, in his native
state, in 1796, and took up the study of law.
In 1790 he became private secretary to his
uncle, then governor of New York. He en-
tered public life as a Republican or anti-
Federalist, and was elected to the lower
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY.
Ill
house of the state assembly in 1797, and the
senate of that body in 179S. At that time
he was looked on as " the most rising man
in the Union." In 1S01 he was elected to
the United States senate. In 1803 he was
appointed by the governor and council
mayor of the city of New York, then a
very important and powerful office. Hav-
ing been re-appointed, he held the office
of mayor for nearly eleven years, and
rendered great service to that city. Mr.
Clinton served as lieutenant-governor of
the state of New York, 1811-13, and
was one of the commissioners appointed
to examine and survey a route for a canal
from the Hudson river to Lake Erie. Dif-
fering with President Madison, in relation to
the war, in 18 12, he was nominated for the
presidency against that gentleman, by a
coalition party called the Clintonians, many
of whom were Federalists. Clinton received
eight-nine electoral votes. His course at
this time impaired his popularity for a time.
He wis removed from the mayoralty in
1814, and retired to private life. In 1815
he wrote a powerful argument for the con-
struction of the Erie canal, then a great and
beneficent work of which he was the prin-
cipal promoter. This was in the shape of
a memorial to the legislature, which, in
18 17, passed a bill authorizing the construc-
tion of that canal. The same year he was
elected governor of New York, almost unani-
mously, notwithstanding the opposition of
a few who pronounced the scheme of the
canal visionary. He was re-elected governor
in 1820. He was at this time, also, presi-
dent of the canal commissioners. He de-
clined a re-election to the gubernatorial
chair in 1822 and was removed from his
place on the canal board two years later.
But he was triumphantly elected to the of-
fice of governor that fall, and hi^ pet project,
the Erie canal, was finished the next year.
He was re-elected governor in 1826, but
died while holding that office, February II,
1828.
AARON BURR, one of the many brilliant
figures on the political stage in the early
days of America, was born at Newark, New
Jersey, February 6, 1756. He was the son
of Aaron and Esther Burr, the former the
president of the College of New Jersey, and
the latter a daughter of Jonathan Edwards,
who had been president of the same educa-
tional institution. Young Burr graduated
at Princeton in 1772. In 1775 he joined
the provincial army at Cambridge, Massa-
chusetts. For a time, he served as a private
soldier, but later was made an aide on the
staff of the unfortunate General Montgom-
ery, in the Quebec expedition. Subse-
quently he was on the staffs of Arnold, Put-
nam and Washington, the latter of whom
he disliked. He was promoted to the rank
of lieutenant-colonel and commanded a
brigade on Monmouth's bloody field. In
x 779. on account of feeble health, Colonel
Burr resigned from the army. He took up
the practice of law in Albany, New York,
but subsequently removed to New York City.
In 1789 he became attorney-general of that
state. In 1 791 he was chosen to represent
the state of New York in the United States
senate and held that position for six years.
In 1800 he and Thomas Jefferson were both
candidates for the presidency, and there
being a tie in the electoral college, each
having seventy-three votes, the choice was
left to congress, who gave the first place to
Jefferson and made Aaron Burr vice-presi-
dent, as the method then was. In 1804 Mr.
Burr and his great rival, Alexander Hamil-
ton, met in a duel, which resulted in the
death of the latter, Burr losing thereby con-
112
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY.
siderable political and social influence. He
soon embarked in a wild attempt upon
Mexico, and as was asserted, upon the
southwestern territories of the United
States. He was tried for treason at
Richmond, Virginia, in 1807, but acquitted,
and to avoid importunate creditors, fled to
Europe. After a time, in 1812, he returned
to New York, where he practiced law, and
where he died, September 14, 1836. A man
of great ability, brilliant and popular talents,
his influence was destroyed by his unscrupu-
lous political actions and immoral private
life.
ALBERT GALLATIN, one of the most
distinguished statesmen of the early
days of the -republic, was born at Geneva,
Switzerland, January 29, 1761. He was
the son of Jean de Gallatin and Sophia A.
Rolaz du Rosey Gallatin, representatives of
an old patrician family. Albert Gallatin
was left an orphan at an early age, and was
educated under the care of friends of his
parents. He graduated from the University
of Geneva in 1779, and declining employ-
ment under one of the sovereigns of Ger-
many, came to the struggling colonies, land-
ing in Boston July 14, 1780. Shortly after
his arrival he proceeded to Maine, where he
served as a volunteer under Colonel Allen.
He made advances to the government for
the support of the American troops, and in
November, 17S0, was placed in command
of a small fort at Passamaquoddy, defended
by a force of militia, volunteers and Indians.
In 1783 he was professor of the French
language at Harvard University. A year
later, having received his patrimony from
Europe, he purchased large tracts of land
in western Virginia, but was prevented by
the Indians from forming the large settle-
ment he proposed, and, in 1786, purchased
a farm in Fayette county, Pennsylvania.
In 1789 he was a member of the convention
to amend the constitution of that state, and
united himself with the Republican party,
the head of which was Thomas Jefferson.
The following year he was elected to the
legislature of Pennsylvania, to which he was
subsequently re-elected. In 1793 he was
elected to the United States senate, but
could not take his seat on account of not
having been a citizen long enough. In 1794
Mr. Gallatin was elected to the representa-
tive branch of congress, in which he served
three terms. He also took an important
position in the suppression of the "whiskey
insurrection." In 1801, on the accession of
Jefferson to the presidency, Mr. Gallatin
was appointed secretary of the treasury.
In 1809 Mr. Madison offered him the posi-
tion of secretary of state, but he declined,
and continued at the head of the treasury
until 18 12, a period of twelve years. He
exercised a great influence on the other de-
partments and in the general administration,
especially in the matter of financial reform,
and recommended measures for taxation,
etc. , which were passed by congress, and be-
came laws May 24, 18 1 3. The same year he
was sent as an envoy extraordinary to Rus-
sia, which had offered to mediate between
this country and Great Britain, but the lat-
ter country refusing the interposition of
another power, and agreeing to treat di-
rectly with the United States, in 18 14, at
Ghent, Mr. Gallatin, in connection with his
distinguished colleagues, negotiated and
signed the treaty of peace. In 1S15, in
conjunction with Messrs. Adams and Clay,
he signed, at London, a commercial treaty
between the two countries. In 18 16, de-
clining his old post at the head of the treas-
ury, Mr. Gallatin was sent as minister to
France, where he remained until
1823.
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY.
118
After a year spent in England as envoy ex-
traordinary, he took up his residence in New
York, and from that time held no public
office. In 1830 he was chosen president of
the council of the University of New York.
He was, in 183 1, made president of the
National bank, which position he resigned
in 1839. He died August 12, 1849.
M
ILLARD FILLMORE, the thirteenth
president of the United States, was
born of New England parentage in Summer
Hill, Cayuga county, New York, January J,
1800. His school education was very lim-
ited, but he occupied his leisure hours in
study. He worked in youth upon his fa-
ther's farm in his native county, and at the
age of fifteen was apprenticed to a wool
carder and cloth dresser. Four years later
he was induced by Judge Wood to enter his
office at Montviile, New York, and take up
the study of law. This warm friend, find-
ing young Fillmore destitute of means,
loaned him money, but the latter, not wish-
ing to incur a heavy debt, taught school
during part of the time and in this and other
ways helped maintain himself. In 1822 he
removed to Buffalo, New York, and the year
following, being admitted to the bar, he
commenced the practice of his profession
at East Aurora, in the same state. Here
he remained until 1830, having, in the
meantime, been admitted to practice in the
supreme court, when he returned to Buffalo,
where he became the partner of S. G.
Haven and N. K. Hall. He entered poli-
tics and served in the state legislature from
1829 to 1832. He was in congress in 1 833—
35 and in 1837-41, where he proved an
active and useful member, favoring the
views of John Quincy Adams, then battling
almost alone the slave-holding party in na-
tional politics, and in most of public ques-
tions acted with the Whig party. While
chairman of the committee of ways and
means he took a leading part in draughting
the tariff bill of 1842. In 1844 Mr. Fill-
more was the Whig candidate for governor
of New York. In 1S47 he was chosen
comptroller of the state, and abandoning
his practice and profession removed to Al-
bany. In 1848 he was elected vice presi-
dent on the ticket with General Zachary
Taylor, and they were inaugurated the fol-
lowing March. On the death of the presi-
dent, July 9, 1850, Mr. Fillmore was in-
ducted into that office. The great events
of his administration were the passage of
the famous compromise acts of 1850, and
the sending out of the Japan expedition of
1852.
March 4-, 1853, having served one term,
President Fillmore retired from office, and
in 1855 went to Europe, where he received
marked attention. On returning home, in
1856, he was nominated for the presidency
by the Native American or "Know-Noth-
ing" party, but was defeated, James Buch-
anan being the successful candidate.
Mr. Fillmore ever afterward lived in re-
tirement. During the conflict of Civil war
he was mostly silent. It was generally sup-
posed, however, that his sympathy was with
the southern confederacy. He kept aloof
from the conflict without any words of cheer
to the one party or the other. For this rea-
son he was forgotten by both. He died of
paralysis, in Buffalo, New York, March 8,
i874-
PETER F. ROTHERMEL, one of Amer-
ica's greatest and best-known historical
painters, was born in Luzerne county, Penn-
sylvania, July 8, 1817, and was of German
ancestry. He received his earlier education
in his native county, and in Philadelphia
114
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHT.
learned the profession of land surveying.
But a strong bias toward art drew him away
and he soon opened a studio where he did
portrait painting. This soon gave place to
historical painting, he having discovered the
bent of his genius in that direction. Be-
sides the two pictures in the Capitol at
Washington — ' 'De Soto Discovering the Mis-
sissippi" and "Patrick Henry Before the
Virginia House of Burgesses" — Rothermel
painted many others, chief among which
are: "Columbus Before Queen Isabella,"
"Martyrs of the Colosseum," "Cromwell
Breaking Up Service in an English Church, "
and the famous picture of the "Battle
of Gettysburg." The last named was
painted for the state of Pennsylvania, for
which Rothermel received the sum of $25,-
000, and which it took him four years to
plan and to paint. It represents the portion
of that historic field held by the First corps,
an exclusively Pennsylvania body of men,
and was selected by Rothermel for that
reason. For many years most of his time
was spent in Italy, only returning for short
periods. He died at Philadelphia, August
16, 1895.
EDMUND KIRBY SMITH, one of the
distinguished leaders upon the side of the
south in the late Civil war, was born at St.
Augustine, Florida, in 1824. After receiv-
ing the usual education he was appointed to
the United States Military Academy at West
Point, from which he graduated in 1845 and
entered the army as second lieutenant of
infantry. During the Mexican war he was
made first lieutenant and captain for gallant
conduct at Cerro Gordo and Contreras.
From 1849 to '852 he was assistant pro-
fessor of mathematics at West Point. He
was transferred to the Second cavalry with
the rank of captain in 1855, served on the
frontier, and was wounded in a fight with
Comanche Indians in Texas, May 13, 1859.
In January, 1861, he became major of his
regiment, but resigned April 9th to fol-
low the fortunes of the southern cause.
He was appointed brigadier-general in the
Confederate army and served in Virginia.
At the battle of Bull Run, July 21, 1861,
he arrived on the field late in the day, but
was soon disabled by a wound. He was
made major-general in 1S62, and being trans-
ferred to East Tennessee, was given com-
mand of that department. Under General
Braxton Bragg he led the advance in the
invasion of Kentucky and defeated the Union
forces at Richmond, Kentucky, August 30,
1862, and advanced to Frankfort. Pro-
moted to the rank of lieutenant-general, he
was engaged at the battle of Perryville,
October 10, and in the battle of Murfrees-
boro, December 31, 1862, and January 3,
1863. He was soon made general, the
highest rank in the service, and in com-
mand of the trans-Mississippi department
opposed General N. P. Banks in the famous
Red River expedition, taking part in the
battle of Jenkins Ferry, April 30, 1864, and
other engagements of that eventful cam-
paign. He was the last to surrender the
forces under his command, which he did
May 26, 1865. After the close of the war
he located in Tennessee, where he died
March 28, 1893.
JOHN JAMES INGALLS, a famous
<J American statesman, was born Decem-
ber 29, 1833, at Middleton, Massachusetts,
where he was reared and received his early
education. He went to Kansas in 185S
and joined the free-soil army, and a year
after his arrival he was a member of the his-
torical Wyandotte convention, which drafted
a free-state constitution. In i860 he was
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHT.
115
made secretary of the territorial council,
and in 1861 was secretary of the state sen-
ate. The next year he was duly elected to
the legitimate state senate from Atchison,
where he had made his home. From that
time he was the leader of the radical Re-
publican element in the state. He became
the editor of the " Atchison Champion " in
1863, which was a "red-hot free-soil Re-
publican organ." In 1862 he was the anti-
Lane candidate for lieutenant-governor, but
was defeated. He was elected to the Unit-
ed States senate to succeed Senator Pom-
eroy, and took his seat in the forty-third
congress and served until the fiftieth. In
the forty-ninth congress he succeeded Sen-
ator Sherman as president pro tern., which
position he held through the fiftieth con-
gress.
BENJAMIN WEST, the greatest of the
early American painters, was of Eng-
lish descent and Quaker parentage. He was
born in Springfield, Pennsylvania, in 1738.
From what source he inherited his genius it
is hard to imagine, since the tenets and
tendencies of the Quaker faith were not cal-
culated to encourage the genius of art, but
at the age of nine years, with no suggestion
except that of inspiration, we find him choos-
ing his model from lite, and laboring over
his first work calculated to attract public
notice. It was a representation of a sleep-
ing child in its cradle. The brush with
which he painted it was made of hairs
which he plucked from the cat's tail, and
the colors were obtained from the war paints
of friendly Indians, his mother's indigo bag,
and ground chalk and charcoal, and the juice
of berries, but there were touches in the rude
production that he declared in later days
were a credit to his best works. The pic-
ture attracted notice, for a council was
called at once to pass upon the boy's con-
duct in thus infringing the laws of the so-
ciety. There were judges among them who
saw in his genius a rare gift and their wis-
dom prevailed, and the child was given per-
mission to follow his inclination. He studied
under a painter named Williams, and then
spent some years as a portrait painter with
advancing success. At the age of twenty-
two he went to Italy, and not until he had
perfected himself by twenty-three years of
labor in that paradise of art was he satisfied
to turn his face toward home. However, he
stopped at London, and decided to settle
there, sending to America for his intended
bride to join him. Though the Revolution-
ary war was raging, King George III showed
the American artist the highest considera-
tion and regard. His remuneration from
works for royalty amounted to five thou-
sand dollars per year for thirty years.
West's best known work in America is,
perhaps, "The Death of General Wolf."
West was one of the thirty-six original mem-
bers of the Royal academy and succeeded
Joshua Reynolds as president, which posi-
tion he held until his death. His early
works were his best, as he ceased to display
originality in his later life, conventionality
having seriously affected his efforts. He
died in 1820.
SAMUEL PORTER JONES, the famous
Georgia evangelist, was born October
16, 1847, in Chambers county, Alabama.
He did not attend school regularly during
his boyhood, but worked on a farm, and
went to school at intervals, on account of
ill health. His father removed to Carters-
ville, Georgia, when Mr. Jones was a small
boy. He quit school at the age of nineteen
and never attended college. The war inter-
fered with his education, which was intended.
116
COMTEXDIl'M OF BIOGRAPHY.
to prepare him for the legal profession.
'After the war he renewed his preparation
for college, but was compelled to desist from
such a course, as his health failed him en-
tirely. Later on, however, he still pursued
his legal studies and was admitted to the
bar. Soon after this event he went to Dal-
las, Paulding county, Georgia, where he was
engaged in the practice of his profession,
and in a few months removed to Cherokee
county, Alabama, where he taught school.
In 1869 he returned to Cartersville, Georgia,
and arrived in time to see his father die.
Immediately after this event he applied for
a license to preach, and went to Atlanta,
Georgia, to the meeting of the North Geor-
gia Conference of the M. E. church south,
which received him on trial. He became
an evangelist of great note, and traveled
extensively, delivering his sermons in an
inimitable style that made him very popular
with the musses, his methods of conducting
revivals being unique and original and his
preaching practical and incisive.
SHELBY MOORE CULLOM, a national
character in political affairs and for
many years United States senator from
Illinois, was born November 22, 1829, at
Monticello, Kentucky. He came with his
parents to Illinois in 1 830 and spent his early
yearson afarm, but havingformedthe purpose
of devoting himself to the lawyer's profession
he spent two years study at the Rock River
seminary atMount Morris, Illinois. In 1853
Mr. Cullom entered the law office of Stuart
and Edwards at Springfield, Illinois, and two
years later he began the independent prac-
tice of law in that city. He took an active
interest in politics and was soon elected city
attorney of Springfield. In 1856 he was
elected a member of the Illinois house of
representatives. He identified himself with
the newly formed Republican party and in
i860 was re-elected to the legislature of his
state, in which he was chosen speaker of the
house. In 1862 President Lincoln appoint-
ed a commission to pass upon and examine
the accounts of the United States quarter-
masters and disbursing officers, composed
as. follows: Shelby M. Cullom, of Illinois;
Charles A. Dana, of New York, and
Gov. Boutwell, of Massachusetts. Mr.
Cullom was nominated for congress in
1864, and was elected by a majority of
1,785. In the house of representatives he
became an active and aggressive member,
was chairman of the committee on territories
and served in congress until 1868. Mr.
Cullom was returned to the state legislature,
of which he was chosen speaker in 1872,
and was re-elected in 1874. In 1876 he
was elected governor of Illinois and at the
end of his term he was chosen for a second
term. He was elected United States senator
in 1883 and twice re-elected.
RICHARD JORDAN GATLING, an
American inventor of much note, was
born in Hertford county, North Carolina,
September 12, 1818. At an early age he
gave promise of an inventive genius. The
first emanation from his mind was the
invention of a screw for the propulsion ot
water craft, but on application for a
patent, found that he was forestalled but
a short time by John Ericsson. Subse-
quently he invented a machine for sowing
wheat in drills, which was used to a great
extent throughout the west. He then stud-
ied medicine, and in 1847-8 attended
lectures at the Indiana Medical College
at Laporte, and in 1848-9 at the Ohio
Medical College at Cincinnati. He later
discovered a method of transmitting power
through the medium of compressed air. A
HGEO.MPiJU.MANh
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHT,
119
double-acting hemp break was also invented
by him. The invention, however, by which
Dr. Gatling became best known was the
famous machine gun which bears his name.
This he brought to light in 1861-62, and on
the first trial of it, in the spring of the latter
year, two hundred shots per minute were
fired from it. After making some improve-
ments which increased its efficiency, it was
submitted to severe trials by our govern-
ment at the arsenals at Frankfort, Wash-
ington and Fortress Monroe, and at other
points. The gun was finally adopted by
our government, as well as by that of Great
Britain, Russia and others.
BENJAMIN RYAN TILLMAN, who won
a national fame in politics, was born
August 11, 1847, in Edgefield county, South
Carolina. He received his education in the
Oldfield school, where he acquired the
rudiments of Latin and Greek, in addition
to a good English education. He left school
in 1864 to join the Confederate army, but
was prevented from doing so by a severe
illness, which resulted in the loss of an eye.
In 1867 he removed to Florida, but returned
in 1868, when he was married and devoted
himself to farming. He was chairman of
the Democratic organization of his county,
but except a few occasional services he took
no active part in politics then. Gradually,
however, his attention was directed to the
depressed condition of the farming interests
of his state, and in August, 18S5, before a
joint meeting of the agricultural society and
state grange at Bennettsville, he made a
speech in which he set forth the cause of
agricultural depression and urged measures
of relief. From his active interest in the
farming class he was styled the " Agricult-
ural Moses." He advocated an industrial
school for women and for a separate agri-
7
cultural college, and in 1887 he secured a
•modification in the final draft of the will of
Thomas G. Clemson, which resulted in the
erection of the Clemson Agricultural Col-
lege at Fort Hill. In 1890 he was chosen
governor on the Democratic ticket, and
carried the election by a large majority.
Governor Tillman was inaugurated Decem-
ber 4, 1890. Mr. Tillman was next elected
to the United States senate from South
Carolina, and gained a national reputation
by his fervid oratory.
GEORGE DENISON PRENTICE. -
No journalist of America was so cele-
brated in his time for the wit, spice, and
vigor of his writing, as the gentleman whose
name heads this sketch. From Atlantic to
Pacific he was well known by his witticism
as well as by strength and force of his edi-
torials. He was a native of Preston, Con-
necticut, born December 18, 1802. After
laying the foundation of a liberal education
in his youth, he entered Brown University,
from which he was graduated in 1823. Tak-
ing up the study of law, he was admitted to
the bar in 1829. During part of his time
he was editor of the " New England Weekly
Review," a position which he relinquished
to go south and was succeeded by John
Greenleaf Whittier, the Quaker poet.
On arriving in Louisville, whither he
had gone to gather items for his history of
Henry Clay, Mr. Prentice became identified
with the " Louisville Journal," which, under
his hands, became one of the leading Whig
newspapers of the country. At the head of
this he remained until the day of his death.
This latter event occurred January 22, 1870,
and he was succeeded in the control of the
"Journal" by Colonel Henry Watterson.
Mr. Prentice was an author of consider-
able celebrity, chief among his works being
120
COMPEXDIL'M OF BIOGRAPIir
" The Life of Henry Clay," and " Prentice-
ana," a collection of wit and humor, that
passed through several large editions.
SAM. HOUSTON, in the opinion of some
critics one of the most remarkable men
who ever figured in American history, was a
native of Rockbridge county, Virginia, born
March 2, 1793. Early in life he was left in
destitute circumstances by the death of his
father, and, with his mother, removed to
Tennessee, then almost a boundless wilder-
ness. He received but little education,
spending the most of his time among the
Cherokee Indians. Part of the time of his
residence there Houston acted as clerk for a
trader and also taught one of the primitive
schools of the day. In 181 3 he enlisted as
private in the United States army and was
engaged under General Jackson in the war
with the Creek Indians. When peace was
made Houston was a lieutenant, but he re-
signed his commission and commenced the
study of law at Nashville. After holding
some minor offices he was elected member
of congress from Tennessee. This was in
1823. He retained this office until 1827,
when he was chosen governor of the state.
In 1829, resigning that office before the ex-
piration of his term, Sam Houston removed
to Arkansas, and made his home among the
Cherokees, becoming the agent of that
tribe and representing their interests at
Washington. On a visit to Texas, just
prior to the election of delegates to a con-
vention called for the purpose of drawing
up a constitution previous to the admission
of the state into the Mexican union, he was
unanimously chosen a delegate. The con-
vention framed the constitution, but, it be-
ing rejected by the government of Mexico,
and the petition for admission to the Con-
federacy denied and the Texans told by the
president of the Mexican union to give up
their arms, bred trouble. It was determined
to resist this demand. A military force was
soon organized, with General Houston at
the head of it. War was prosecuted with
great vigor, and with varying success, but
at the battle of San Jacinto, April 21, 1 836,
the Mexicans were defeated and their leader
and president, Santa Anna, captured. Texas
was then proclaimed an independent repub-
lic, and in October of the same year Hous-
ton was inaugurated president. On the ad-
mission of Texas to the Federal Union, in
1845, Houston was elected senator, and
held that position for twelve years. Oppos-
ing the idea of secession, he retired from
political life in 1861, and died at Hunts-
ville, Texas, July 25, 1863.
ELI WHITNEY, the inventor of the cot-
ton-gin, was born in Westborough, Mas-
sachusetts, December 8, 1765. After his
graduation from Yale College, he went to
Georgia, where he studied law, and lived
with the family of the widow of General
Nathaniel Greene. At that time the only
way known to separate the cotton seed from
the fiber was by hand, making it extremely
slow and expensive, and for this reason cot-
ton was little cultivated in this country.
Mrs. Greene urged the inventive Whitney
to devise some means for accomplishing
this work by machinery. This he finally
succeeded in doing, but he was harassed by
attempts to defraud him by those who had
stolen his ideas. He at last formed a part-
nership with a man named Miller, and they
began the manufacture of the machines at
Washington, Georgia, in 1795. The suc-
cess of his invention was immediate, and the
legislature of South Carolina voted the sum
of $50,000 for his idea. This sum he had
great difficulty in collecting, after years of
COMPEXDICM OF BIOGRAPHY.
1*21
litigation and delay. North Carolina al-
lowed him a royalty, and the same was
agreed to by Tennessee, but was never paid.
While his fame rests upon the invention
of the cotton-gin, his fortune came from his
improvements in the manufacture and con-
struction of firearms. In 1798 the United
States government gave him a contract for
this purpose, and he accumulated a fortune
from it. The town of Whitneyville, Con-
necticut, was founded by this fortune.
Whitney died at New Haven, Connecticut,
January 8, 1825.
The cotton-gin made the cultivation of
cotton profitable, and this led to rapid in-
troduction of slavery in the south. His in-
vention thus affected our national history in
a manner little dreamed of by the inventor.
LESTER WALLACK (John Lester Wal-
lack), for many years the leading light
comedian upon the American stage, was
the son of James W. Wallack, the " Brum-
mell of the Stage." Both father and son
were noted for their comeliness of feature
and form. Lester Wallack was born in
New York, January 1, 18 19. He received
his education in England, and made his first
appearance on the stage in 1848 at the New
Broadway theater, New York. He acted
light comedy parts, and also occasion-
ally in romantic plays like Monte Cristo,
which play made him his fame. He went
to England and played under management
of such men as Hamblin and Burton, and then
returned to New York with his father, who
opened the first Wallack's theater, at the
corner of Broome and Broadway, in 1852.
The location was afterward changed to
Thirteenth and Broadway, in 1861, and
later to its present location, Broadway and
Thirteenth, in 1882. The elder Wallack
died in 1864, after which Lester assumed
management, jointly with Theodore Moss.
Lester Wallack was commissioned in the
queen's service while in England, and there
he also married a sister to the famous artist,
the late John Everett Millais. While Les-
ter Wallack never played in the interior
cities, his name was as familiar to the public
as that of our greatest stars. He died S :p-
tember 6, 1888, at Stamford, Connecticut.
GEORGE MORTIMER PULLMAN,
the palace car magnate, inventor,
multi-millionaire and manufacturer, may
well be classed among the remarkable
self-made men of the century. He was
born March 3, 1831, in Chautauqua county,
New York. His parents were poor, and
his education was limited to what he could
learn of the rudimentary branches in the
district school. At the age of fourteen lie
went to work as clerk for a country mer-
chant. He kept this place three years,
studying at night. When seventeen he
went to Albion, New York, and worked I r
his brother, who kept a cabinet shop there.
Five years later he went into business for
himself as contractor for moving buildings
along the line of the Erie canal, which was
then being widened by the state, and was
successful in this. In 1S58 he removed to
Chicago and engaged in the business of
moving and raising houses. The work was
novel there then and lie was quite success-
ful. About this time the discomfort attend-
ant on traveling at night attracted his at-
tention. He reasoned that the public would
gladly pay for comfortable sleeping accom-
modations. A few sleeping cars were in
use at that time, but they were wretchedly
crude, uncomfortable affairs. In 1S59 he
bought two old day coaches from the Chi-
cago & Alton road and remodeled them s
thing like the general plan of the slee]
122
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY.
cars of the present day. They were put
into service on the Chicago & Alton and
became popular at once. In 1863 he built
the first sleeping-car resembling the Pullman
cars of to-day. It cost $18,000 and was
the " Pioneer." After that the Pullman
Palace Car Company prospered. It had
shops at different cities. In 1880 the Town
of Pullman was founded by Mr. Pullman
and his company, and this model manufac-
turing community is known all over the
world. Mr. Pullman died October 19, 1897.
JAMES E. B. STUART, the most famous
cavalry leader of the Southern Confed-
eracy during the Civil war, was born in
Patrick county, Virginia, in 1833. On
graduating from the United States Military
Academy, West Point, in 1854, he was as-
signed, as second lieutenant, to a regiment
of mounted rifles, receiving his commission
in October. In March, 1855, he was trans-
ferred to the newly organized First cavalry,
and was promoted to first lieutenant the
following December, and to captain April
22, 1 861 . Taking the side of the south,
May 14, 1 86 1, he was made colonel of a
Virginia cavalry regiment, and served as
such at Bull Run. In September, 1861, he
was promoted to the rank of brigadier-gen-
eral, and major-general early in 1862. On
the reorganization of the Army of Northern
Virginia, in June of the latter year, when
R. E. Lee assumed command, General Stu-
art made a reconnoissance with one thou-
sand five hundred cavalry and four guns,
.and in two days made the circuit of McClel-
lan's army, producing much confusion and
gathering useful information, and losing but
one man. August 25, 1S62, he captured
part of Pope's headquarters' train, including
that general's private baggage and official
correspondence, and the next night, in a
descent upon Manasses, capturing immense
quantities of commissary and quartermaster
store, eight guns, a number of locomotives
and a few hundred prisoners. During the
invasion of Maryland, in September, 1862,
General Stuart acted as rearguard, resisting
the advance of the Federal cavalry at South
Mountain, and at Antietam commanded the
Confederate left. Shortly after he crossed
the Potomac, making a raid as far as Cham-
bersburg, Pennsylvania. In the battle of
Fredericksburg, December 13, 1862, Gen-
eral Stuart's command was on the extreme
right of the Confederate line. At Chancel-
lorsville, after "Stonewall " Jackson's death
and the wounding of Gereral A. P. Hill,
General Stuart assumed command of Jack-
son's corps, which he led in the severe con-
test of May 3, 1863. Early in June, the
same year, a large force of cavalry was
gathered under Stuart, at Culpepper, Vir-
ginia, which, advancing to join General Lee
in his invasion of Pennsylvania, was met at
Brandy Station, by two divisions of cavalry
and two brigades of infantry, under General
John I. Gregg, and driven back. During the
movements of the Gettysburg campaign he
rendered important services. In May, 1864,
General Stuart succeeded, by a detour, in
placing himself between Richmond and
Sheridan's advancing column, and at Yellow
Tavern was attacked in force. During the
fierce conflict that ensued General Stuart
was mortally wounded, and died at Rich-
mond, May 1 1, 1864.
FRANKLIN PIERCE, the fourteenth
president of the United States — from
1853 until 1857 — was born November 23,
1804, at Hillsboro, New Hampshire. He
came of old revolutionary stock and his
father was a governor of the state. Mr.
Pierce entered Bowdoin College in 1820,
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPIir.
123
was graduated in 1824, and took up the
study of law in the office of Judge Wood-
bury, and later he was admitted to the bar.
Mr. Pierce practiced his profession with
varying successes in his native town and
also in Concord. He was elected to the
state legislature in 1833 and served in that
body until 1837, the last two years of his
term serving as speaker of the house. He
was elected to the United States senate in
1837, just as President Van Buren began
his term of office. Mr. Pierce served until
1842, and many times during Polk's term he
declined important public offices. During
the war with Mexico Mr. Pierce was ap-
pointed brigadier-general, and he embarked
with a portion of his troops at Newport,
Rhode Island, May 27, 1847, and went with
them to the field of battle. He served
through the war and distinguished himself
by his skill, bravery and excellent judg-
ment. When he reached his home in his
native state he was received coldly by the
opponents of the war, but the advocates of
the war made up for his cold reception by
the enthusiastic welcome which they ac-
corded him. Mr. Pierce resumed the prac-
tice of his profession, and in the political
strife that followed he gave his support to
the pro-slavery wing of the Democratic
party. The Democratic convention met in
Baltimore, June 12, 1852, to nominate a
candidate for the presidency, and they con-
tinued in session four days, and in thirty-
five ballotings no one had secured the re-
quisite two-thirds vote. Mr. Pierce had not
received a vote as yet, until the Virginia
delegation brought his name forward, and
finally on the forty-ninth ballot Mr. Pierce
received 282 votes and all the other candi-
dates eleven. His opponent on the Whig
ticket was General Winfield Scott, who
only received the electoral votes of four
states. Mr. Pierce was inaugurated presi-
dent of the United States March 4, 1853,
with W. R. King as vice president, and the
following named gentlemen were afterward
chosen to fill the positions in the cabinet:
William S. Marcy, James Guthrie, Jeffer-
son Davis, James C. Dobbin, Robert Mc-
Clelland, James Campbell and Caleb' Cush-
ing. During the administration of President
Pierce the Missouri compromise law was
repealed, and all the territories of the Union
were thrown open to -slavery, and the dis-
turbances in Kansas occurred. In 1857 he
was succeeded in the presidency by James
Buchanan, and retired to his home in Con-
cord, New Hampshire. He always cherished
his principles of slavery, and at the out-
break of the rebellion he was an adherent of
the cause of the Confederacy. He died at
Concord, New Hampshire, October 8, 1869.
JAMES B. WEAVER, well known as a
leader of the Greenback and later of the
Populist party, was born at Dayton, Ohio,
June 12, 1833. He received his earlier
education in the schools of his native town,
and entered the law department of the Ohio
University, at Cincinnati, from which he
graduated in 1854. Removing to the grow-
ing state of Iowa, he became connected
with "The Iowa Tribune," at the state
capital, Des Moines, as one of its editors.
He afterward practiced law and was elected
district attorney for the second judicial dis-
trict of Iowa, on the Republican ticket in
1 866, which office he held for a short time.
In 1867 Mr. Weaver was appointed assessor
of internal revenue for the first district of
Iowa, and filled that position until some-
time in 1873. He was elected and served
in the forty-sixth congress. In 1880 the
National or Greenback party in convention
at Chicago, nominated James B. Weaver as
124
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY.
its candidate for the presidency. By a
union of the Democratic and National
parties in his district, he was elected to the
forty-ninth congress, and re-elected to the
same office in the fall of 1S86. Mr. Weaver
was conceded to be a very fluent speaker,
and quite active in all political work. On
July 4, 1892, at the National convention
of the People's party, General James B.
Weaver was chosen as the candidate for
president of that organization, and during
the campaign that followed, gained a na-
tional reputation.
ANTHONY JOSEPH DREXEL, one
of the leading bankers and financiers of
the United States, was born in Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania, in 1826, and was the son of
Francis M. Drexel, who had established
the large banking institution of Drexel &
Co., so well known. The latter was a native
of Dornbirn, in the Austrian Tyrol. He
studied languages and fine arts at Turin,
Italy. On returning to his mountain home,
in 1809, and finding it in the hands of the
French, he went to Switzerland and later
to Paris. In 18 12, after a short visit home,
he went to Berlin, where he studied paint-
ing until 1 8 17, in which year he emigrated
io America, and settled in Philadelphia. A
few years later he went to Chili and Peru,
where he executed some fine portraits of
notable people, including General Simon
Bolivar. After spending some time in Mex-
ico, he returned to Philadelphia, and en-
gaged in the banking business. In 1837 he
founded the house of Drexel & Co. He
died in 1837, and was succeeded by his two
sons, Anthony J. and Francis A. His son,
Anthony J. Drexel, Jr. , entered the bank
when he was thirteen years of age, before he
was through with his schooling, and after
that the history of the banking business of
which he was the head, was the history of his
life. The New York house of Drexel, Mor-
gan & Co. was established in 1S50; the
Paris house, Drexel, Harjes & Co., in 1867.
The Drexel banking houses have supplied
iand placed hundreds of millions of dollars
n government, corporation, railroad and
other loans and securities. The reputation
of the houses has always been held on the
highest plane. Mr. Drexel founded and
heavily endowed the Drexel Institute, in
Philadelphia, an institution to furnish better
and wider avenues of employment to young
people of both sexes. It has departments
of arts, science, mechanical arts and domes-
tic economy. Mr. Drexel, Jr. , departed this
life June 30, 1893.
SAMUEL FINLEY BREESE MORSE,
inventor of the recording telegraph in-
strument, was born in Charlestown, Massa-
chusetts, April 27, 1 791. He graduated
from Yale College in 18 10, and took up art
as his profession. He went to London with
the great American painter, Washington
Allston, and studied in the Royal Academy
under Benjamin West. His " Dying Her-
cules, " his first effort in sculpture, took the
gold medal in 181 3. He returned to Amer-
ica in 181 5 and continued to pursue his
profession. He was greatly interested in
scientific studies, which he carried on in
connection with other labors. He founded
the National Academy of Design and was
many years its president. He returned to
Europe and spent three years in study
in the art centers, Rome, Florence, Venice
and Paris. In 1S32 he returned to America
and while on the return voyage the idea of
a recording telegraph apparatus occurred to
him, and he made a drawing to represent his
conception. He was the first to occupy the
chair of fine arts in the University of New
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY.
125
York City, and in 1835 he set up his rude
instrument in his room in the university.
But it was not until after many years of
discouragement and reverses of fortune that
he finally was successful in placing his inven-
tion before the public. In 1844, by aid of
the United States government, he had con-
structed a telegraph line forty miles in length
from Washington to Baltimore. Over this
line the test was made, and the first tele-
graphic message was flashed May 24, 1844,
from the United States supreme court rooms
to Baltimore. It read, "What hath God
wrought!" His fame and fortune were es-
tablished in an instant. Wealth and honors
poured in upon him from that day. The
nations of Europe vied with each other
in honoring the great inventor with medals,
titles and decorations, and the learned
societies of Europe hastened to enroll his
name upon their membership lists and confer
degrees. In 1 S58 he was the recipient of an
honor never accorded to an inventor before.
The ten leading nations of Europe, at the
suggestion of the Emporer Napoleon, ap-
pointed representatives to an international
congress, which convened at Paris for the
special purpose of expressing gratitude of the
nations, and they voted him a present of
400,000 francs.
Professor Morse was present at the unveil-
ing of a bronze statue erected in his honor in
Central Park, New York, in 187 1 . His last
appearance in public was at the unveiling
of the statue of Benjamin Franklin in New
York in 1872, when he made the dedica-
tory speech and unveiled the statue. He
died April 2, 1872, in the city of New York.
M (
ORRISON REMICH WAITE, seventh
chief justice of the United States, was
born at Lyme, Connecticut, November 29,
1 8 16. He was a graduate from Yale Col-
lege in 1837, in the class with William M.
Evarts. His father was judge of the su-
preme court of errors of the state of Con-
necticut, and in his office young Waite
studied law. He subsequently removed to
Ohio, and was elected to the legislature of
that state in 1849. He removed from
Haumee City to Toledo and became a prom-
inent legal light in that state. He was
nominated as a candidate for congress re-
peatedly but declined to run, and also de-
clined a place on the supreme bench of the
state. He won great distinction for his able
handling of the Alabama claims at Geneva,
before the arbitration tribunal in 1S71, and
was appointed chief justice of the supreme
court of the United States in 1874 on the
death of Judge Chase. When, in 1876, elec-
toral commissioners were chosen to decide
the presidential election controversy between
Tilden and Hayes, Judge Waite refused to
serve on that commission.
His death occurred March 23, 1888:,
ELISHA KENT KANE was one of the
distinguished American explorers of the
unknown regions of the frozen north, and
gave to the world a more accurate knowl-
edge of the Arctic zone. Dr. Kane was
born February 3, 1820, at Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania. He was a graduate of the
universities of Virginia and Pennsylvania,
and took his medical degree in 1843. He
entered the service of the United States
navy, and was physician to the Chinese
embassy. Dr. Kane traveled extensively
in the Levant, Asia and Western Africa,
and also served in the Mexican war, in
which he was severely wounded. His
first Arctic expedition was under De Haven
in the first Grinnell expedition in search
of Sir John Franklin in 1850. He com-
manded the second Grinnell expedition
126
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY.
in 1853-55, and discovered an open polar
sea. For this expedition he received a gold
medal and other distinctions. He published
a narrative of his first polar expedition in
1853, and in 1856 published two volumes
relating to his second polar expedition. He
was a man of active, enterprising and cour-
ageous spirit. His health, which was al-
ways delicate, was impaired by the hard-
ships of his Arctic expeditions, from which
he never fully recovered and from which he
died February 16, 1857, at Havana.
ELIZABETH CADY STANTON was a
daughter of Judge Daniel Cady and
Margaret Livingston, and was born Novem-
ber 12, 181 5, at Johnstown, New York. She
was educated at the Johnstown Academy,
where she studied with a class of boys, and
was fitted for college at the age of fifteen,
after which she pursued her studies at Mrs.
Willard's Seminary, at Troy. Her atten-
tion was called to the disabilities of her sex
by her own educational experiences, and
through a study of Blackstone, Story, and
Kent. Miss Cady was married to Henry B.
Stanton in 1840, and accompanied him to
the world's anti-slavery convention in Lon-
don. While there she made the acquain-
tance of Lucretia Mott. Mrs. Stanton
resided at Boston until 1847, when the
family moved to Seneca Falls, New York,
and she and Lucretia Mott signed the first
call for a woman's rights convention. The
meeting was held at her place of residence
July 19-20, 1848. This was the first oc-
casion of a formal claim of suffrage for
women that was made. Mrs. Stanton ad-
dressed the New York legislature, in 1854,
on the rights of married women, and in
i860, in advocacy of the granting of di-
vorce for drunkenness. She also addressed
the legislature and the constitutional con-
vention, and maintained that during the
revision of the constitution the state was
resolved into its original elements, and that
all citizens had, therefore, a right to vote
for the members of that convention. After
1869 Mrs. Stanton frequently addressed
congressional committees and state consti-
tutional conventions, and she canvassed
Kansas, Michigan, and other states when
the question of woman suffrage was sub-
mitted in those states. Mrs. Stanton was
one of the editors of the " Revolution," and
most of the calls and resolutions for con-
ventions have come from her pen. She
was president of the national committee,
also of the Woman's Loyal League, and
of the National Association, for many years.
DAVID DUDLEY FIELD, a great
American jurist, was born in Connecti-
cut in 1805. He entered Williams College
when sixteen years old, and commenced the
study of law in 1S25. In 1828 he was ad-
mitted to the bar, and went to New York,
where he soon came into prominence be-
fore the bar of that state. He entered upon
the labor of reforming the practice and
procedure, which was then based upon the
common law practice of England, and had
become extremely complicated, difficult and
uncertain in its application. His first paper
on this subject was published in 1839, and
after eight years of continuous efforts in this
direction, he was appointed one of a com-
mission by New York to reform the practice
of that state. The resuit was embodied in
the two codes of procedure, civil and crimi-
nal, the first of which was adopted almost
entire by the state of New York, and has
since been adopted by more than half the
states in the Union, and became the basis
of the new practice and procedure in Eng-
land, contained in the Judicature act. He
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHT.
127
was later appointed chairman cf a new com-
mission to codify the entire body of laws.
This great work employed many years in its
completion, but when finished it embraced
a civil, penal, and political code, covering
the entire field of American laws, statutory
and common. This great body of law was
adopted by California and Dakota territory
in its entirety, and many other states have
since adopted its substance. In 1S67 the
British Association for Social Science heard
a proposition from Mr. Field to prepare an
international code. This led to the prepara-
tion of his " Draft Outlines of an Interna-
tional Code," which was in fact a complete
body of international laws, and introduced
the principle of arbitration. Other of his
codes of the state of New York have since
been adopted by that state.
In addition to his great works on law,
Mr. Field indulged his literary tastes by fre-
quent contributions to general literature,
and his articles on travels, literature, and
the political questions of the hour gave
him rank with the best writers of his time.
His father was the Rev. David Dudley Field,
and his brothers were Cyrus W. Field, Rev.
Henry Martin Field, and Justice Stephen
J. Field of the United States supreme
court. David Dudley Field died at New
York, April 13, 1894.
HENRY M. TELLER, a celebrated
American politician, and secretary of
the interior under President Arthur, was born
May 23, 1830, in Allegany county, New
York. He was of Hollandish ancestry and
received an excellent education, after which
he took up the study of law and was ad-
mitted to the bar in the state of New York.
Mr. Teller removed to Illinois in January,
1858, and practiced for three years in that
state. From thence he moved to Colorado
in 1 86 1 and located at Central City, which
was then one of the principal mining towns
in the state. His exceptional abilities as
a lawyer soon brought him into prominence
and gained for him a numerous and profit-
able clientage. In politics he affiliated with
the Republican party, but declined to become
a candidate for office until the admission of
Colorado into the Union as a state, when
he was elected to the United States senate.
Mr. Teller drew the term ending March
4, 1877, but was re-elected December 11,
1876, and served until April 17, 1882, when
he was appointed by President Arthur as
secretary of the interior. He accepted a
cabinet position with reluctance, and on
March 3, 1885, he retired from the cabinet,
having been elected to the senate a short
time before to succeed Nathaniel P. Hill.
Mr. Teller took his seat on March 4, 18S5,
in the senate, to which he was afterward
re-elected. He served as chairman on the
committee of pensions, patents, mines and
mining, and was also a member of commit-
tees on claims, railroads, privileges and
elections and public lands. Mr. Teller came
to be recognized as one of the ablest advo-
cates of the silver cause. He was one of the
delegates to the Republican National conven-
tion at St. Louis in 1896, in which he took
an active part and tried to have a silver
plank inserted in the platform of the party.
Failing in this he felt impelled to bolt the
convention, which he did and joined forces
with the great silver movement in the cam-
paign which followed, being recognized in
that campaign as one of the most able and
eminent advocates of "silver" in America.
JOHN ERICSSON, an eminent inven-
tor and machinist, who won fame in
America, was born in Sweden, July 31,1 803.
In early childhood he evinced a decided in-
128
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY.
clination to mechanical pursuits, and at the
age of eleven he was appointed to a cadet-
ship in the engineer corps, and at the age of
seventeen was promoted to a lieutenancy.
In 1826 he introduced a "flame engine,"
which he had invented, and offered it to
English capitalists, but it was found that it
could be operated only by the use of wood
for fuel. Shortly after this he resigned his
commission in the army of Sweden, and de-
voted himself to mechanical pursuits. He
discovered and introduced the principle of
artificial draughts in steam boilers, and re-
ceived a prize of two thousand five hundred
dollars for his locomotive, the "Novelty,"
which attained a great speed, for that day.
The artificial draught effected a great saving
in fuel and made unnecessary the huge
smoke-stacks formerly used, and the princi-
ple is still applied, in modified form, in boil-
ers. He also invented a steam fire-engine,
and later a hot-air engine, which he at-
tempted to apply in the operation of his
ship, "Ericsson," but as it did not give the
speed required, he abandoned it, but after-
wards applied it to machinery for pumping,
hoisting, etc.
Ericsson was first to apply the screw
propeller to navigation. The English peo-
ple not receiving this new departure readily,
Ericsson came to America in 1839, and
built the United States steamer, ' ' Prince-
ton," in which the screw-propeller was util-
ized, the first steamer ever built in which
the propeller was under water, out of range
of the enemy's shots. The achievement
which gave him greatest renown, however,
was the ironclad vessel, the "Monitor," an
entirely new type of vessel, which, in March,
1862, attacked the Confederate monster
ironclad ram, " Virginia," and after a fierce
struggle, compelled her to withdraw from
Hampton Roads for repairs. After the war
one of his most noted inventions was his
vessel, " Destroyer," with a submarine gun,
which carried a projectile torpedo. In 1886
the king of Spain conferred on him the
grand cross of the Order of Naval Merit.
He died in March, 1889, and his body was
transferred, with naval honors, to the country
of his birth.
JAMES BUCHANAN, the fifteenth presi-
dent of the United States, was a native
of Pennsylvania, and was born in Franklin
county, April 23, 1 79 1 . He was of Irish
ancestry, his father having come to this
country in 1783, in quite humble circum-
stances, and settled in the western part of
the Keystone state.
James Buchanan remained in his se-
cluded home for eight years, enjoying but
few social or intellectual advantages. His
parents were industrious and frugal, and
prospered, and, in 1799, the family removed
to Mercersbur Pennsylvania, where he
was placed in school. His progress was
rapid, and in 1801 he entered Dickinson
College, at Carlisle, where he took his place
among the best scholars in the institution.
In 1809 he graduated with the highest hon-
ors in his class. He was then eighteen, tall,
graceful and in vigorous health. He com-
menced the study of law at Lancaster, and
was admitted to the bar in 18 12. He rose
very rapidly in his profession and took a
stand with the ablest of his fellow lawyers.
When but twenty-six years old he success-
fully defended, unaided by counsel, one of
the judges of the state who was before the
bar of the state senate under articles of im-
peachment.
During the war of 1812-15, Mr. Buch-
anan sustained the government with all his
power, eloquently urging the vigorous prose-
cution of the war, and enlisted as a private
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY.
129
volunteer to assist in repelling the British
who had sacked and burned the public
buildings of Washington and threatened
Baltimore. At that time Buchanan was
a Federalist, but the opposition of that
party to the war with Great Britain and the
alien and sedition laws of John Adams,
brought that party into disrepute, and drove
many, among them Buchanan, into the Re-
publican, or anti-Federalist ranks. He was
elected to congress in 1S28. In 1831 he
was sent as minister to Russia, and upon
his return to this country, in 1833, was ele-
vated to the United States senate, and re-
mained in that position for twelve years.
Upon the accession of President Polk to
office he made Mr. Buchanan secretary of
state. Four years later he retired to pri-
vate life, and in 1853 he was honored with
the mission to England. In 1856 the na-
tional Democratic convention nominated
him for the presidency and he was elected.
It was during his administration that the
rising tide of the secession movement over-
took the country. Mr. Buchanan declared
that the national constitution gave him no
power to do anything against the movement
to break up the Union. After his succession
by Abraham Lincoln in i860, Mr. Buchanan
retired to his home at Wheatland, Pennsyl-
vania, where he died June I, 1868.
JOHN HARVARD, the founder of the
Harvard University, was born in Eng-
land about the year 1608. He received his
education at Emanuel College, Cambridge,
and came to America in 1637, settling in
Massachusetts. He was a non-conformist
minister, and a tract of land was set aside
for him in Charlestown, near Boston He
was at once appointed one of a committee to
formulate a body of laws for the colony.
One year before his arrival in the colony
the general court had voted the sum of four
hundred pounds toward the establishment of
a school or college, half of which was to be
paid the next year In 1637 preliminary
plans were made for starting the school. In
1638 John Harvard, who had shown great
interest in the new institution of learning
proposed, died, leaving his entire property,
about twice the sum originally voted, to the
school, together with three hundred volumes
as a nucleus for a library. The institution
was then given the name of Harvard, and
established at Newton (now Cambridge),
Massachusetts. It grew to be one of the two
principal seats of learning in the new world,
and has maintained its reputation since. It
now consists of twenty-two separate build-
ings, and its curriculum embraces over one
hundred and seventy elective courses, and it
ranks among the great universities of the
world.
ROGER BROOKE TANEY, a noted
jurist and chief justice of the United
States supreme court, was born in Calvert
county, Maryland, March 17, 1777. He
graduated fiom Dickinson College at the
age of eighteen, took up the study of law,
and was admitted to the bar in 1799. He
was chosen to the legislature from his county,
and in 1801 removed to Frederick, Mary-
land. He became United States senator
from Maryland in 18 16, and took up his
permanent residence in Baltimore a few
years later. In 1824 he became an ardent
admirer and supporter of Andrew Jackson,
and upon Jackson's election to the presi-
dency, was appointed attorney general of
the United States. Two years later he was
appointed secretary of the treasury, and
after serving in that capacity for nearly one
year, the senate refused to confirm the ap-
pointment. In 1835, upon the death of
130
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHT.
Chief-justice Marshall, he was appointed to
that place, and a political change having
occurred in the make up of the senate, he
was confirmed in 1336. He presided at
his first session in January of the following
year.
The case which suggests itself first to
the average reader in connection with this
jurist is the celebrated " Dred Scott " case,
which came before the supreme court for
decision in 1856. In his opinion, delivered
on behalf of a majority of the court, one
remarkable statement occurs as a result of
an exhaustive survey of the historical
grounds, to the effect that ' ' for more than
a century prior to the adoption of the con-
stitution they (Africans) had been regarded
so far inferior that they had no rights which
a white man was bound to respect." Judge
Taney retained the office of chief justice
until his death, in 1864.
JOHN LOTHROP MOTLEY.— This gen-
tleman had a world-wide reputation as
an historian, which placed him in the front
rank of tiie great men of America. He was
born April 15, 1814, at Dorchester, Massa-
chusetts, was given a thorough preparatory
education and then attended Harvard, from
which he was graduated in 1831. He also
studied at Gottingen and Berlin, read law
and in 1836 was admitted to the bar. In
1 84 1 he was appointed secretary of the
legation at St. Petersburg, and in 1866-67
served as United States minister to Austria,
serving in the same capacity during 1S69
and 1S70 to England. In 1856, after long
and exhaustive research and preparation, he
published in London "The Rise of the
Dutch Republic." It embraced three vol-
umes and immediately attracted great at-
tention throughout Europe and America as
a work of unusual merit. From 1S61 to
1868 he produced "The History of the
United Netherlands," in four volumes.
Other works followed, with equal success,
and his position as one of the foremost his-
torians and writers of his day was firmly
established. His death occured May 29,
■877-
ELIAS HOWE, the inventor of the sew-
ing machine, well deserves to be classed
among the great and noted men of Amer-
ica. He was the son of a miller and farmer
and was born at Spencer, Massachusetts,
July 9, 1 8 19. In 1835 he went to Lowell
and worked there, and later at Boston, in the
machine shops. His first sewing machine
was completed in 1 845 , and he patented it in
1846, laboring with the greatest persistency
in spite of poverty and hardships, working
for a time as an engine driver on a railroad
at pauper wages and with broken health.
He then spent two years of unsuccessful ex-
ertion in England, striving in vain to bring
his invention into public notice and use.
He returned to the United States in almost
hopeless poverty, to find that his patent
had been violated. At last, however, he
found friends who assisted him financially,
and after years of litigation he made good
his claims in the courts in 1854. His inven-
tion afterward brought him a large fortune.
During the Civil war he volunteered as a
private in the Seventeenth Connecticut Vol-
unteers, and served for some time. During
his life time he received the cross of the
Legion of Honor and many other medals.
His death occurred October 3, 1867, at
Brooklyn, New York.
PHILLIPS BROOKS, celebrated as an
eloquent preacher and able pulpit ora-
tor, was born in Boston on the 13th day of
December, 1835. lie received excellent
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY.
181
educational advantages, and graduated at
Harvard in 1855. Early in life he decided
upon the ministry as his life work and
studied theology in the Episcopal Theolog-
ical Seminary, at Alexandria, Virginia. In
1859 he was ordained and the same year
became pastor of the Church of the Advent,
in Philadelphia. Three years later he as-
sumed the pastorate of the Church of the
Holy Trinity, where he remained until 1870.
At the expiration of that time he accepted
the pastoral charge of Trinity Church in
Boston, where his eloquence and ability at-
tracted much attention and built up a pow-
erful church organization. Dr. Brooks also
devoted considerable time to lecturing and
literary work and attained prominence in
these lines.
WILLIAM B. ALLISON, a statesman
of national reputation and one of the
leaders of the Republican party, was born
March 2,- 1829, at Perry, Ohio. He grew
up on his father's farm, which he assisted
in cultivating, and attended the district
school. When sixteen years old he went
to the academy at Wooster, and subse-
quently spent a year at the Allegheny Col-
lege, at Meadville, Pennsylvania. He next
taught school and spent another year at the
Western Reserve College, at Hudson, Ohio.
Mr. Allison then took up the study of law
at Wooster, where he was admitted to the
bar in 1851, and soon obtained a position
as deputy county clerk. His political lean-
ings were toward the old line Whigs, who
afterward laid the foundation of the Repub-
lican party. Ha was a delegate to the state
convention- in 1856. in the campaign of
which he supported Fremont for president.
Mr Allison removed to Dubuque, Iowa,
in the following year. He rapidly rose to
prominence at the bar an .1 i.i politics. In
i860 he was chosen as a delegate to the
Republican convention held in Chicago, of
which he was elected one of the secretaries.
At the outbreak of the civil war he was ap-
pointed on the staff of the governor. His
congressional career opened in 1862, when
he was elected to the thirty-eighth congress;
he was re-elected three times, serving from
March 4, 1863, to March 3, 1871. He was
a member of the ways and means committee
a good part of his term. His career in the
United States senate began in 1873, and he
rapidly rose to eminence in national affairs,
his service of a quarter of a century in that
body being marked by close fealty to the
Republican party. He twice declined the
portfolio of the treasury tendered him by
Garfield and Harrison, and his name was
prominently mentioned for the presidency
at several national Republican conventions.
M
ARY ASHTON LIVERMORE, lec-
turer and writer, was born in Boston,
December 19, 182 1. She was the daughter
of Timothy Rice, and married D. P. Liver-
more, a preacher of the Universalist church.
She contributed able articles to many of the
most noted periodicals of this country and
England. During the Civil war she labored
zealously and with success on behalf of the
sanitary commission which played so impor-
tant a part during that great struggle. She
became editor of the " Woman's Journal,"
published at Boston in 1870.
She held a prominent place as a public
speaker and writer on woman's suffrage,
temperance, social and religious questions,
and her influence was great in every cause
she advocated.
JOHN B. GOUGH, a noted temperance
lecturer, who won his fame in America,
was born in the village of Sandgate, Kent,
132
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY
England, August 22, 18 17. He came to
the United States at the age o{ twelve.
He followed the trade of bookbinder, and
lived in great poverty on account of the
liquor habit. In 1843, however, he re-
formed, and began his career as a temper-
ance lecturer. He worked zealously in the
cause of temperance, and his lectures and
published articles revealed great earnestness.
He formed temperance societies throughout
the entire country, and labored with great
success. He visited England in the same
cause about the year 1853 and again in
1878. He also lectured upon many other
topics, in which he attained a wide reputa-
tion. His death occurred February 18,
1886.
THOMAS BUCHANAN READ, author,
sculptor and painter, was born in Ches-
ter county, Pennsylvania, March 12, 1822.
He early evinced a taste for art, and began
the study of sculpture in Cincinnati. Later
he found painting more to his liking. He
went to New York, where he followed this
profession, and later to Boston. In 1846
he located in Philadelphia. He visited
Italy in 1850, and studied at Florence,
where he resided almost continuously for
twenty-two years. He returned to America
in 1872, and died in New York May 11 of
the same year.
He was the author of many heroic
poems, but the one giving him the most re-
nown is his famous "Sheridan's Ride," of
which he has also left a representation in
painting.
EUGENE V. DEBS, the former famous
president of the American Railway
Union, and great labor leader, was born in
the city of Terre Haute, Indiana, in 1855.
Fie received his education in the public
schools of that place and at the age of
sixteen years began work as a painter in
the Vandalia shops. After this, for some
three years, he was employed as a loco-
motive fireman on the same road. His
first appearance in public life was in his
canvass for the election to the office of city
clerk of Terre Haute. In this capacity he
served two terms, and when twenty six
years of age was elected a member of the
legislature of the state of Indiana. While
a member of that body he secured the
passage of several bills in the interest of
organized labor, of which he was always
a faithful champion. Mr. Debs' speech
nominating Daniel Voorhees for the United
States senate gave him a wide reputation for
oratory. On the expiration of his term in
the legislature, he was elected grand secre-
tary and treasurer of the Brotherhood of
Locomotive Fireman and filled that office
for fourteen successive years. He was
always an earnest advocate of confederation
of railroad men and it was mainly through
his efforts that the United Order of Railway
Employes, composed of the Brotherhood
of Railway Trainmen and Conductors,
Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen and
the Switchmen's Mutual Aid Association was
formed, and he became a member of its
supreme council. The order was dissolved
by disagreement between two of its leading
orders, and then Mr. Debs conceived the
idea of the American Railway Union. He
worked on the details and the union came
into existence in Chicago, June 20, 1 893. For
a time it prospered and became one of the
largest bodies of railway men in the world.
It won in a contest with the Great Northern
Railway. In the strike made by the union
in sympathy with the Pullman employes
inaugurated in Chicago June 25, 1S94, and
the consequent rioting, the Railway Union
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY.
is. 3
lost much prestige and Mr. Debs, in company
with others of the officers, being held as in con-
tempt of the United States courts, he suffered
a sentence of six months in jail at Wood-
stock, McHenry county, Illinois. In 1897
Mr. Debs, on the demise of the American
Railway Union, organized the Social
Democracy, an institution founded on the
best lines of the communistic idea, which
was to provide homes and employment for
its members.
JOHN G. CARLISLE, famous as a law-
yer, congressman, senator and cabinet
officer, was born in Campbell (now Kenton)
county, Kentucky, September 5, 1835, on a
farm. He received the usual education oi
the time and began at an early age to teach
school and, at the same time, the study of
law. Soon opportunity offered and he
entered an office in Covington, Kentucky,
and was admitted to practice at the bar in
1858. Politics attracted his attention and
in 1859 he was elected to the house of rep-
resentatives in the legislature of his native
state. On the outbreak of the war in 1861 ,
he embraced the cause of the Union and was
largely instrumental in preserving Kentucky
to the federal cause. He resumed his legal
practice for a time and declined a nomina-
tion as presidential elector in 1864. In
1866 and again in 1869 Mr. Carlisle was
elected to the senate of Kentucky. He re-
signed this position in 1871 and was chosen
lieutenant governor of the state, which office
he held until 1875. He was one of the
presidential electors-at-large for Ken-
tucky in 1876. He first entered congress in
1877, and soon became a prominent leader
on the Democratic side of the house of rep-
resentatives, and continued a member of
that body through the forty-sixth, forty-
seventh, forty-eighth and forty-ninth con-
gresses, and was speaker of the house during
the two latter. He was elected to the
United States senate to succeed Senator
Blackburn, and remained a member of that
branch of congress until March, 1893, when
he was appointed secretary of the treasury.
He performed the duties of that high office
until March 4, 1S97, throughout the en-
tire second administration of President
Cleveland. His ability and many years of
public service gave him a national reputa-
tion.
FRANCES E. WILLARD, for many years
president of the 'Woman's Christian
Temperance Union, and a noted American
lecturer and writer, was born in Rochester,
New York, September 28, 1839. Graduating
from the Northwestern Female College at the
age of nineteen she began teaching and met
with great success in many cities of the west.
She was made directress of Genesee Wts-
leyan Seminary at Lima, Ohio, in 1867, and
four years later was elected president of the
Evanston College for young ladies, a branch
of the Northwestern University.
During the two years succeeding 1869
she traveled extensively in Europe and the
east, visiting Egypt and Palestine, aad
gathering materials for a valuable course of
lectures, which she delivered at Chicago on
her return. She became very popular, and
won great influence in the temperance
cause. Her work as president of the Wo-
man's Christian Temperance Union greatly
strengthened that society, and she made
frequent trips to Europe in the interest of
that cause.
RICHARD OLNEY.— Among the promi-
nent men who were members of the .
cabinet of President Cleveland in his second
administration, the gentleman whose name
184
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY.
heads this sketch held a leading place, oc-
cupying the positions of attorney general
and secretary of state.
Mr. Olney came from one of the oldest
and most honored New England families;
the first of his ancestors to come from Eng-
land settled in Massachusetts in 1635. This
was Thomas Olney. He was a friend and
co-religionist of Roger Williams, and when
the latter moved to what is now Rhode
I'sland, went with him and became one of
the founders of Providence Plantations.
Richard Olney was born in Oxford,
Massachusetts, in 1835, and received the
elements of his earlier education in the com-
mon schools which New England is so proud
of. He entered Brown University, from
which he graduated in 1856, and passed the
Harvard law school two years later. He
began the practice of his profession with
Judge B. F. Thomas, a prominent man of
that locality. For years Richard Olney was
regarded as one of the ablest and most
learned lawyers in Massachusetts. Twice
he was offered a place on the bench of the
suoreme court of the state, but both times
he declined. He was always a Democrat
in his political tenets, and for many years
was a trusted counsellor of members of that
party. In 1874 Mr. Olney was elected a
member of the legislature. In 1876, during
trie heated presidential campaign, to
strengthen the cause of Mr. Tilden in the
New England states, it was intimated that
in the event of that gentleman's election to
the presidency, Mr. Olney would be attor-
ney General.
When Grover Cleveland was elected presi-
' ! ' s nt of the United States, on his inaugura-
tion in March, 1893, he tendered the posi-
tion of attorney general to Richard Olney.
This was accepted, and that gentleman ful-
fclled the duties of the office until the death
of Walter Q. Gresham, in May, 1895, made
vacant the position of secretary of state.
This post was filled by the appointment of
Mr. Olney. While occupying the later
office, Mr. Olney brought himself into inter-
national prominence by some very able state
papers.
JOHN JAY KNOX, for many years comp-
troller of the currency, and an eminent
financier, was born in Knoxboro, Oneida
county, New York, May 19, 1828. He re-
ceived a good education and graduated at
Hamilton College in 1849. For about
thirteen years he was engaged as a private
banker, or in a position in a bank, where
he laid the foundation of his knowledge of
the laws of finance. In 1862, Salmon P.
Chase, then secretary of the treasury, ap-
pointed him to an office in that department
of the government, and later he had charge
of the mint coinage correspondence. In 1867
Mr. Knox was made deputy comptroller
of the currency, and in that capacity, in
1870, he made two reports on the mint
service, with a codification of the mint and
coinage laws of the United States, and
suggesting many important amendments
These reports were ordered printed by reso-
lution of congress. The bill which he pre-
pared, with some slight changes, was sub-
sequently passed, and has been known in
history as the " Coinage Act of 1873."
In 1872 Mr. Knox w?s appointed comp-
troller of the currency, and held that re-
sponsible position until 1884, when he re-
signed. He then accepted the position of
president of the National Bank of the Re-
public, of New York City, which institution
he served for many years. He was the
author of " United States Notes," published
in 1884. In the reports spoken of above, a
history of the two United States ban'.:
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY.
185
given, together with that of the state and
national banking system, and much valuable
statistical matter relating to kindred sub-
jects.
NATHANIEL HAWTHORNE.— In the
opinion of many critics Hawthorne is
pronounced the foremost American novelist,
and in his peculiar vein of romance is said
to be without a peer. His reputation is
world-wide, and his ability as a writer is
recognized abroad as well as at home.
He was born July 4, 1804, at Salem, Massa-
chusetts. On account of feeble health he
spent some years of his boyhood on a farm
near Raymond, Maine. He laid the foun-
dation of a liberal education in his youth,
and entered Bowdoin College, from which
he graduated in 1825 in the same class with
H W Longfellow and John S. C. Abbott.
He then returned to Salem, where he gave
his attention to literature, publishing several
tales and other articles in various periodi-
cals. His first venture in the field of ro-
mance, " Fanshaw," proved a failure. In
1836 he removed to Boston, and became
editor of the "American Magazine," which
soon passed out of existence. In 1837 ne
published "Twice Told Tales," which were
chiefly made up of his former contributions
to magazines. In 1838-41 he held a posi-
tion in the Boston custom house, but later
took part in t!ie " Brook farm experiment,"
a socialistic idea after the plan of Fourier.
In 1843 he was married and took up his
residence at the old parsonage at Concord,
Massachusetts, which he immortalized in
his next work, "Mosses From an Old
Manse," published in 1 S46. From the lat-
ter date until 1850 he was surveyor of the
port of Salem, and while thus employed
wrote one of his strongest works, "The
Scarlet Letter." For the succeeding two
8
years Lenox, Massachusetts, was his home,
and the " House of the Seven Gables" was
produced there, as well as the " Blithedale
Romance." In 1852 he published a "Life
of Franklin Pierce," a college friend whom
he warmly regarded. In 1853 he was ap-
pointed United States consul to Liverpool,
England, where he remained some years,
after which he spent some time in Italy.
On returning to his native land he took up
his residence at Concord, Massachusetts.
While taking a trip for his health with ex-
President Pierce, he died at Plymouth, New
Hampshire, May 19, 1864. In addition to
the works mentioned above Mr. Hawthorne
gave to the world the following books:
" True Stories from History," "The Won-
der Book," " The Snow Image," "Tangle-
wood Tales," "The Marble Faun," and
' ' Our Old Home. " After his death appeared
a series of "Notebooks," edited by his wife,
Sophia P. Hawthorne; " Septimius Felton,"
edited by his daughter, Una, and " Dr.
Grimshaw's Secret," put into shape by his
talented son, Julian. He left an unfinished
work called " Dolliver Romance," which has
been published just as he left it.
ABRAHAM LINCOLN, sixteenth presi-
dent of the United States, was born
February 12, 1809, in Larue county (Har-
din county), Kentucky, in a log-cabin near
Hudgensville. When he was eight years
old he removed with his parents to Indiana,
near the Ohio river, and a year later his
mother died. His father then married Mrs.
Elizabeth (Bush) Johnston, of Elizabeth-
town, Kentucky, who proved a kind of fos-
ter-mother to Abraham, and encouraged
him to study. He worked as a farm hand
and as a clerk in. a store at Gentry ville, and
was noted for his athletic feats and strength,
fondness for debate, a fund of humorous.
136
coirrEXDii'M of nioGRArnr
anecdote, as well as the composition of rude
verses. He made a trip at the age of nine-
teen to New Orleans on a flat-boat, and set-
tled in Illinois in 1S30. He assisted his
father to build a log house and clear a farm
on the Sangamon river near Decatur, Illinois,
and split the rails with which to fence it. In
1 85 1 he was employed in the building of a
flat-boat on the Sangamon, and to run it to
New Orleans. The voyage gave him a new
insight into the horrors of slavery in the
south. On his return he settled at New
Salem and engaged, first as a clerk in a store,
then as grocer, surveyor and postmaster, and
he piloted the first steamboat that as-
cended the Sangamon. He participated in
the Black Hawk war as captain of volun-
teers, and after his return he studied law,
interested himself in politics, and became
prominent locally as a public speaker. He
was elected to the legislature in 1834 as a
" Clay Whig, " and began at once to dis-
play a command of language and forcible
rhetoric that made him a match for his
more cultured opponents. He was ad-
mitted to the b^.r in 1837, and began prac-
tice at Springfield. He married a lady of a
prominent Kentucky family in 1842. He
was active in the presidential campaigns of
1840 and 1844 and was an elector on the
Harrison and Clay tickets, and was elected
to congress in 1846, over Peter Cartwright.
He voted for the Wilmot proviso and the
abolition of slavery in the District of Colum-
bia, and opposed the war with Mexico, but
gained little prominence during his two
years' service. He then returned to Spring-
field and devoted his attention to law, tak-
ing little interest in politics, until the repeal
of the Missouri compromise and the passage
of the Kansas-Nebraska bill in 1S54. This
awakened his interest in politics again and
be attacked the champion of that measure,
Stephen A. Douglas, in a speech at Spring-
field that made him famous, and is said
by those who heard it to be the greatest
speech of his life. Lincoln was selected as
candidate for the United States senate, but
was defeated by Trumbull. Upon the pas-
sage of the Kansas-Nebraska bill the Whig
party suddenly went to pieces, and the Re-
publican party gathered head. At the
Bloomington Republican convention in 1856
Lincoln made an effective address in which
he first took a position antagonistic to the ex-
istence of slavery. He was a Fremont elector
and received a strong support for nomina-
tion as vice-president in the Philadelphia
convention. In 1858 he was the unanimous
choice of the Republicans for the United
States senate, and the great campaign of de-
bate which followed resulted in the election
of Douglas, but established Lincoln's repu-
tation as the leading exponent of Republican
doctrines. He began to be mentioned in
Illinois as candidate for the presidency, and
a course of addresses in the eastern states
attracted favorable attention. When the
national convention met at Chicago, his
rivals, Chase, Seward, Bates and others,
were compelled to retire before the western
giant, and he was nominated, with Hannibal
Hamlin as his running mate. The Demo-
cratic party had now been disrupted, and
Lincoln's election assured. He carried
practically every northern state, and the
secession of South Carolina, followed by a
number of the gulf states, took place before
his inauguration. Lincoln is the only presi-
dent who was ever compelled to reach
Washington in a secret manner. He es-
caped assassination by avoiding Baltimore,
and was quietly inaugurated March 4, 1S61.
His inaugural address was firm but con-
ciliatory, and he said to the secessionists:
"You have no oath registered in heaven
COMPHXDIUM OF biography.
137
to destroy the government, while I have the
most solemn one to preserve, protect and
defend it.' He made up his cabinet chiefly
of those political rivals in his own part}' —
Seward, Chase, Cameron, Bates — and se-
cured the co-operation of the Douglas Dem-
ocrats. His great deeds, amidst the heat
and turmoil of war, were: His call for
seventy-five thousand volunteers, and the
blockading of southern ports; calling of con-
gress in extra session, July 14, 1861, and
obtaining four hundred thousand men and
four hundred million dollars for the prosecu-
tion of the war; appointing Stanton secre-
tary of war; issuing the emancipation proc-
lamation; calling three hundred thou-
sand volunteers; address at Gettysburg
cemetery; commissioned Grant as lieuten-
ant-general and commander-in-chief of the
armies of the United States; his second
inaugural address; his visit to the army be-
fore Richmond, and his entry into Rich-
mond the day after its surrender.
Abraham Lincoln was shot by John
Wi'kes Booth in a box in Ford's theater
at - Washington the night of April 14, 1865,
and expired the following morning. His
h>dy was buried at Oak Ridge cemetery,
Springfield, Illinois, and a monument com-
memorating his great work marks his resting
place.
STEPHEN GIRARD, the celebrated
philanthropist, was born in Bordeaux,
France, May 24, 1750. He became a sailor
engaged in the American coast trade, and
also made frequent trips to the West Indies.
During the Revolutionary war he was a
grocer and liquor seller in Philadelphia.
He married in that city, and afterward
separated from his wife. After the war he
again engaged in the coast and West India
trade, and his fortune began to accumulate
from receiving goods from West Indian
planters during the insurrection in Hayti,
little of which was ever called for again.
He became a private banker in Philadelphia
in 18 1 2, and afterward was a director in the
United States Bank. He made much money
by leasing property in the city in times of
depression, and upon the revival of industry
sub-leasing at enormous profit. He became
the wealthiest citizen of the United States
of his time.
He was eccentric, ungracious, and a
freethinker. He had few, if any, friends in
his lifetime. However, he was most chari-
tably disposed, and gave to charitable in-
stitutions and schools with a liberal hand.
He did more than any one else to relieve
the suffering and deprivations during the
great yellow fever scourge in Philadelphia,
devoting his personal attention to the sick.
He endowed and made a free institution,
the famous Will's Eye and Ear Infirmary
of Phiiadelpha — one of the largest institu-
tions of its kind in the world. At his death
practically all his immense wealth was be-
queathed to charitable institutions, more
than two millions of dollars going to the
founding of Girard College, which was to
be devoted to the education and training of
boys between the ages of six and ten years.
Large donations were also made to institu-
tions in Philadelphia and New Orleans.
The principal building of Girard College is
the most magnificent example of Greek
architecture in America. Girard died De-
cember 26, 1 83 1.
LOUIS J. R. AGASSIZ, the eminent nat-
uralist and geologist, was born in the
parish of Motier, near Lake Neuchatel, Swit-
zerland, May 28, 1807, but attained his
greatest fame after becoming an American
citizen. He studied the medical sciences at
138
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY.
Zurich, Heidelberg and Munich. His first
work was a Latin description of the fishes
which Martius and Spix brought from Brazil.
This was published in 1 829-3 1 . He devoted
much time to the study of fossil fishes, and
in 1832 was appointed professor of natural
history at Neuchatel. He greatly increased
his reputation by a great work in French,
entitled " Researches on Fossil Fishes," in
1832-42, in which he made many important
improvements in the classification of fishes.
Having passed, many summers among the
Alps in researches on glaciers, he propounded
some new and interesting ideas on geology,
and the agency of glaciers in his "Studies
by the Glaciers." This was published in
1840. This latter work, with his " System
of the Glaciers," published in 1847, are
among his principal works.
In 1S46, Professor Agassiz crossed the
ocean on a scientific excursion to the United
States, and soon determined to remain here.
He accepted, about the beginning of 1848,
the chair of zoology and geology at Harvard.
He explored the natural history of the
United States at different times and gave an
impulse to the study of nature in this
country. In 1S65 he conducted an expedi-
tion to Brazil, and explored the lower Ama-
zon and its tributaries. In 1868 he was
made non-resident professor of natural his-
tory at Cornell University. In December,
1 87 1, he accompanied the Hassler expedi-
tion, under Professor Pierce, to the South
Atlantic and Pacific oceans. He died at
Cambridge, Massachusetts, December 14,
Among other of the important works of
Professor Agassiz may be mentioned the fol-
lowing: "Outlines of Comparative Physi-
ology," "Journey to Brazil," and "Contri-
butions to the Natural History of the United
States." It is said of Professor Agassiz,
that, perhaps, with the exception of Hugh
Miller, no one had so popularized science in
his day, or trained so many young natural-
ists. Many of the theories held by Agassiz
are not supported by many of the natural-
ists of these later days, but upon many of
the speculations into the origin of species and
in physics he has left the marks of his own
strongly marked individuality.
WILLIAM WINDOM.— As a prominent
and leading lawyer of the great north-
west, as a member of both houses of con-
gress, and as the secretary of the treasury,
the gentleman whose name heads this sketch
won for himself a prominent position in the
history of our country.
Mr. Windom was a native of Ohio,
born in Belmont county, May 10, 1827.
He received a good elementary education in
the schools of his native state, and took up
the study of law. He was admitted to the
bar, and entered upon the practice of his
profession in Ohio, where he remained until
1855. In the latter year he made up his
mind to move further west, and accordingly
went to Minnesota, and opening an office,
became identified with the interests of that
state, and the northwest generally. In
1858 he took his place in the Minnesota
delegation in the national house of repre-
sentatives, at Washington, and continued
to represent his constituency in that body
for ten years. In 1871 Mr. Windom was
elected United States senator from Min-
nesota, and was re-elected to the same office
after fulfilling the duties of the position for
a full term, in 1876. On the inauguration
of President Garfield, in March, 1881, Mr.
Windom became secretary of the treasury
in his cabinet. He resigned this office Oc-
tober 27, 1 88 1, and was elected senator
from the North Star state to fill the va-
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHT.
139
cancy caused by the resignation of A. J.
Edgerton. Mr. Windom served in that
chamber until March, 1S83.
William Windom died in New York
City January 29, 1891.
DON M. DICKINSON, an American
politician and lawyer, was born in
Port Ontario, New York, January 17, 1846.
He removed with his parents to Michigan
when he was but two years old. He was
educated in the public schools of Detroit
and at the University of Michigan at Ann
Arbor, and was admitted to the bar at the
age of twenty-one. In 1872 he was made
secretary of the Democratic state central
committee of Michigan, and his able man-
agement of the campaign gave him a prom-
inent place in the councils of his party. In
1876, during the Tilden campaign, he acted
as chairman of the state central committee.
He was afterward chosen to represent his
state in the Democratic national committee,
and in 1886 he was appointed postmaster-
general by President Cleveland. After the
expiration of his term of office he returned
to Detroit and resumed the practice of law.
In the presidential campaign of 1896, Mr.
Dickinson adhered to the "gold wing "of
the Democracy, and his influence was felt
in the national canvass, and especially in
his own state.
JOHN JACOB ASTOR, the founder of
the Astor family and fortunes, while not
a native of this country, was one of the
most noted men of his time, and as all his
wealth and fame were acquired here, he
may well be classed among America's great
men. He v/as born near Heidelberg, Ger-
many, July 17, 1763, and when twenty
years old emigrated to the United States.
Even at that age he exhibited remarkable
business ability and foresight, and soon he
was investing capital in furs which he took
to London and sold at a great profit.. He
next settled at New York, and engaged ex-
tensively in the fur trade. He exported
furs to Europe in his own vessels, which re-
turned with cargoes of foreign commodities,
and thus he rapidly amassed an immense
fortune. In 181 1 he founded Astoria on
the western coast of North America, near
the mouth of the Columbia river, as a depot
for the fur trade, for the promotion of
which he sent a number of expeditions to
the Pacific ocean. He also purchased a
large amount of real estate in New York,
the value of which increased enormously
All through life his business ventures were
a series of marvelous successes, and he
ranked as one of the most sagacious and
successful business men in the world. He
i i: .3d March 29, 1S48, leaving a fortune es-
timated at over twenty million dollars to
his children, who have since increased it.
John Jacob Astor left $400,000 to found a
public library in New York City, and his son,
William B. Astor, who died in 1875, left
$300,000 to add to his father's bequest.
This is known as the Astor Library, one of
the largest in the United States.
SCHUYLER COLFAX, an eminent
American statesman, was born in New
York City, March 23, 1S23, being a grand-
son of General William Colfax, the com-
mander of Washington's life-guards. In
1836 he removed with his mother, who was
then a widow, to Indiana, settling at South
Bend. Young Schuyler studied law, and
in 1845 became editor of the "St. Joseph
Valley Register," a Whig paper published
at South Bend. He was a member of the
convention which formed a new constitu-
tion for Indiana in 1S50, and he opposed
140
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY.
the clause that prohibited colored men
from settling in that state. In 1851 he was
defeated as the Whig candidate for congress
but was elected in 1854, and, being repeat-
edly re-elected, continued to represent that
district in congress until 1869. He became
one of the most prominent and influential
members of the house of representatives,
and served three terms a3 speaker. During
the Civil war he was an active participant
in all public measures of importance, and
was a confidential friend and adviser of
President Lincoln. In May, 1868, Mr.
Colfax was nominated for vice-president on
the ticket with General Grant, and was
elected. After the close of his term he re-
tired from office, and for the remainder of
his life devoted much of his time to lectur-
ing and literary pursuits. His death oc-
curred January 23, 18S5. He was one of
the most prominent members of the Inde-
pendent Order of Odd Fellows in America,
and that order erected a bronze statue to
his memory in University Park. Indianapo-
lis Indiana, which was unveiled in May,
1887.
WILLIAM FREEMAN VILAS, who at-
tained a national reputation as an able
lawyer, statesman, and cabinet officer, was
born at Chelsea, Vermont, July 9, 1840.
His parents removed to Wisconsin when
our subject was but eleven years of age,
and there with the early settlers endured all
the hardships and trials incident to pioneer
life. William F. Vilas was given all the
advantages found in the common schools,
and supplemented this by a course of study
in the Wisconsin State University, after
which he studied law, was admitted to the
bar and began practicing at Madison.
Shortly afterward the Civil war broke out
and Mr. Vilas enlisted and became colonel
of the Twenty-third regiment of Wisconsin
Volunteers, serving throughout the war with
distinction. At the close of the war he re-
turned to Wisconsin, resumed his law prac-
tice, and rapidly rose to eminence in this
profession. In 1S85 he was selected by
President Cleveland for postmaster-general
and at the close of his term again returned
to Madison, Wisconsin, to resume the prac-
tice of law.
THOMAS McINTYRE COOLEY, anem-
inent American jurist and law writer,
was born in Attica, New York, January G,
1824. He was admitted to the bar in 1846,
and four years later was appointed reporter
of the supreme court of Michigan, which
office he continued to hold for seven years.
In the meantime, in 1859, he became pro-
fessor of the law department of the Univer-
sity of Michigan, and soon afterward was
made dean of the faculty of that depart-
ment. In 1864 he was elected justice of
the supreme court of Michigan, in 1867 be-
came chief justice of that court, and in
1869 was re-elected for a term of eight
years. In 1881 he again joined the faculty
of the University of Michigan, assuming the
professorship of constitutional and adminis-
trative law. His works on these branches
have become standard, and he is recog-
nized as authority on this and related sub-
jects. Upon the passage of the inter-state
commerce law in 1887 he became chairman
of the commission and served in that capac-
ity four years.
JOHN PETER ALTGELD, a noted
American politician and writer on social
questions, was born in Germany, December
30, 1S47. He came to America with his
parents and settled in Ohio when two years
old. In 1 8C4 ho entered the Union army
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY.
in
and served till the close of the war, after
which he settled in Chicago, Illinois. He
was elected judge of the superior court of
Cook count)", Illinois, in 1886, in which
capacity he served until elected governor of
Illinois in 1892, as a Democrat. During
the first year of his term as governor he at-
tracted national attention by his pardon of
the anarchists convicted of the Haymarket
murder in Chicago, and again in 1894 by
his denunciation of President Cleveland for
calling out federal troops to suppress the
rioting in connection with the great Pull-
man strike in Chicago. At the national
convention of the Democratic party in Chi-
cago, in Jul)-, 1896, he is said to have in-
spired the clause in the platform denuncia-
tory of interference by federal authorities in
local affairs, and "government by injunc-
tion." He was gubernatorial candidate for
re-election on the Democratic ticket in 1896,
but was defeated by John R. Tanner, Re-
publican. Mr. Altgeld published two vol-
umes of essays on " Live Questions," evinc-
ing radical views on social matters.
ADLAI EWING STEVENSON, an Amer.
ican statesman and politician, was born
in Christian county, Kentucky, October 23,
1835, and removed with the family to
Bloomington, Illinois, in 1852. He was
admitted to the bar in 1858, and set-
tled in the practice of his profession
in Metamora, Illinois. In 1861 he was
made master in chancery of Woodford
county, and in 1864 was elected state's at-
torney. In 1868 he returned to Blooming-
ton and formed a law partnership with
James S. Ewing. He had served as a pres-
idential elector in 1864, and in 1868 was
elected to congress as a Democrat, receiv-
ing a majority vote from every county in his
district. He became prominent in his
part)-, and was a delegate to the national
convention in 1S84. On the election of
Cleveland to the presidency Mr. Stevenson
was appointed first assistant postmaster-
general. Afte 1- the expiration of his term
he continued to exert a controlling influence
in the politics of his state, and in 1892 was
elected vice-president of the United States
on the ticket with Grover Cleveland. At
the expiration of his term of office he re-
sumed the practice of law at Bloomington,
Illinois.
SIMON CAMERON, whose name is
prominently identified with the history
of the United States as a political leader
and statesman, was born in Lancaster coun-
ty, Pennsylvania, March 8, 1799. He grew
to manhood in his native county, receiving
good educational advantages, and develop-
ing a natural inclination for political life.
He rapidly rose in prominence and became
the most influential Democrat in Pennsyl-
vania, and in 1845 waselected by that party
to the United States senate. Upon the
organization of the Republican party he was
one of the first to declare his allegiance to
it, and in 1856 was re-elected United States
senator from Pennsylvania as a Republican.
In March, 1861, he was appointed secretary
of war by President Lincoln, and served
until early in 1862, when he was sent as
minister to Russia, returning in 1863. In
1866 he was again elected United States
senator and served until 1S77, when he re-
signed and was succeeded by his son, James
Donald Cameron. He continued to exert a
powerful influence in political affairs up to
the time of his death, June 26, 1889.
James Donald Cameron was the eld-
est son of Simon Cameron, and also
attained a high rank among American
statesmen. He was born at Harrisburg,
1*2,
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY.
Pennsylvania, May 14, 1833, and received an
excellent education, graduating at Princeton
College in 1852. He rapidly developed into
one of the most able and successful business
men of the country and was largely inter-
ested in and identified with the develop-
ment of the coal, iron, lumber and manu-
facturing interests of his native state. He
served as cashier and afterward president of
the Middletown bank, and in 1S61 was made
vice-president, and in 1863 president of
the Northern Central railroad, holding this
position until 1874, when he resigned and
was succeeded by Thomas A. Scott. This
road was of great service to the government
duiing the war as a means of communica-
tion between Pennsylvania and the national
capital, via Baltimore. Mr. Cameron also
took an active part in political affairs,
always as a Republican. In May, 1876,
he was appointed secretary of war in Pres-
ident Grant's cabinet, and in 1S77 suc ~
ceeded his father in the United States
senate. He was re-elected in 1885, and
again in 1891, serving until 1896, and was
recognized as one of the most prominent and
influential members of that bodv.
ADOLPHUS W. GREELEY, a famous
American arctic explorer, was born at
Newburyport, Massachusetts, March 27,
1844. He graduated from Brown High
School at the age of sixteen, and a year
later enlisted in Company B, Nineteenth
Massachusetts Infantry, and was made first
sergeant. In 18G3 he was promoted to
second lieutenant. After the war he was
assigned to the Filth United States Cavalry,
and became first lieutenant in 1873. He
was assigned to duly in the United States
signal service shortly after the close of the
war. An expedition was fitted out by the
United States government in 1881, un-
der auspices of the weather bureau, and
Lieutenant Greeley placed in command.
They set sail from St. Johns the first week
in July, and after nine days landed in Green-
land, where they secured the services of two
natives, together with sledges, dogs, furs
and equipment. They encountered an ice
pack early in August, and on the 28th of
that month freezing weather set in. Two
of his party, Lieutenant Lockwood and Ser-
geant Brainard, added to the known maps
about forty miles of coast survey, and
reached the highest point jet attained by
man, eighty-three degrees and twenty-four
minutes north, longitude, forty-four degrees
and five minutes west. On their return to
Fort Conger, Lieutenant Greeley set out
for the south on August 9, 1S83. He
reached Baird Inlet twenty days later with
his entire party. Here they were compelled
to abandon their boats, and drifted on an
ice-floe for one month. They then went
into camp at Cape Sabine, where they suf-
fered untold hardships, and eighteen of the
parly succumbed to cold and hunger, and
had relief been delayed two days longer
none would have been found alive. They
were picked up by the relief expedition,
under Captain Schley, June 22, 1884. The
dead were taken to New York for burial.
Many sensational stories were published
concerning the expedition, and Lieutenant
Greeley prepared an exhaustive account
of his explorations and experiences.
LEVI P. MORTON, the
tician, was born in
moat, May 16, 1824, and
tion consisted of the rud
obtained in the common
age of fourteen, and after
knowledge he gained was
hard school of experience.
; millionaire poii-
Shoreham, Ver-
his early educa-
iments which he
school up to the
that time what
wrested from the
He removed to
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY.
143
Hanover, Vermont, then Concord, Vermont,
and afterwards to Boston. He had worked
in a store at Shoreham, his native village,
and on going to Hanover he established a
store and went into business for himself.
In Boston he clerked in a dry goods store,
and then opened a business of his own in
the same line in New York. After a short
career he failed, and was compelled to set-
tle with his creditors at only fifty cents on
the dollar. He began the struggle anew,
and when the war began he ^ established a
banking house in New York, with Junius
Morgan as a partner. Through his firm
and connections the great government war
loans were floated, and it resulted in im-
mense profits to his house. When he was
again thoroughly established he invited his
former creditors to a banquet, and under
each guest's plate was found a check cover-
ing the amount of loss sustained respec-
tively, with interest to date.
President Garfield appointed Mr. Mor-
ton as minister to France, after he had de-
clined the secretaryship of the navy, and in
1 888' he was nominated as candidate for
vice-president, with Harrison, and elected.
In 1894 he was elected governor of New
York over David B. Hill, and served one
term.
CHARLES KENDALL ADAMS, one
of the most talented and prominent
educators this country has known, was born
January 24, 1835, at Derby, Vermont. He
received an elementary education in the
common schools, and studied two terms in
the Derby Academy. Mr. Adams moved
with his parents to Iowa in 1856. He was
very anxious to pursue a collegiate course,
but this was impossible until he had attained
the age of twenty-one. In the autumn of
1856 he began the study of Latin and Greek
at Denmark Academy, and in September,
1857, he was admitted to the University of
Michigan. Mr. Adams was wholly depend-
ent upon himself for the means of his edu-
cation. During his third and fourth year
he became deeply interested in historical
studies, was assistant librarian of the uni-
versity, and determined to pursue a post-
graduate course. In 1864 he was appointed
instructor of history and Latin and was ad-
vanced to an assistant professorship in 1865,
and in 1867, on the resignation of Professoi
White to accept the presidency of Cornell,
he was appointed to fill the chair of profes-
sor of history. This he accepted on con-
dition of his being allowed to spend a year
for special study in Germany, France and
Italy. Mr. Adams returned in 1868, and
assumed the duties of his professorship.
He introduced the German system for the
instruction of advanced history classes, and
his lectures were largely attended. In 18S5,
on the resignation of President White at
Cornell, he was elected his successor and
held the office for seven years, and on Jan-
uary 17, 1893, he was inaugurated presi-
dent of the University of Wisconsin. Pres-
ident Adams was prominently connected
with numerous scientific and literary organ-
izations and a frequent contributor to the
historical and educational data in the peri-
odicals and journals of the country. He
was the author of the following: " Dem-
ocracy and Monarchy in France," " Manual
of Historical Literature," " A Plea for Sci-
entific Agriculture," " Higher Education in
Germany."
JOSEPH B. FORAKER, a prominent po-
litical leader and ex-governor of Ohio,
was born near Rainsboro, Highland county,
Ohio, July 5, 1846. His parents operated
a small farm, with a grist and sawmill, hav-
144
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY.
ing emigrated hither from Virginia and
Delaware on account of their distaste for
slavery.
Joseph was reared upon a farm until
1862, when he enlisted in the Eighty-ninth
Ohio Infantry. Later he was made ser-
geant, and in 1864 commissioned first lieu-
tenant. The next year he was brevetted
captain. At the age of nineteen he was
mustered out of the army after a brilliant
service, part of the time being on the staff
of General Slocum. He participated in the
battles of Missionary Ridge, Lookout Mount-
ain and Kenesaw Mountain and in Sher-
man's march to the sea.
For two years subsequent to the war
young Foraker was studying at the Ohio
Wesleyan University at Delaware, but later
went to Cornell University, at Unity, New
York, from which he graduated July 1,
1869. He studied law and was admitted to
the bar. In 1879 Mr. Foraker was elected
judge of the superior court of Cincinnati
and held the office for three years. In 1S83
he was defeated in the contest for the gov-
ernorship with Judge Hoadly. In 1885,
however, being again nominated for the
same office, he was elected and served two
terms. In 1889, in running for governor
again, this time against James E. Camp-
bell, he was defeated. Two years later his
career in the United States senate began.
Mr. Foraker was always a prominent figure
at all national meetings of the Republican
party, and a strong power, politically, in his
native state.
LYMAN ABBOTT, an eminent American
preacher and writer on religious sub-
jects, came of a noted New England
family. His father, Rev. Jacob Abbott, was
a prolific and popular writer, and his uncle,
Rev. John S. C. Abbott, was a noted
preacher and author. Lyman Abbott was
born December 18, 1835, m Roxbury,
Massachusetts. He graduated at the New
York University, in 1853, studied law, and
practiced for a time at the bar, after which
he studied theology with his uncle, Rev.
John S. C. Abbott, and in i860 was settled
in the ministry at Terre Haute, Indiana, re-
maining there until after the close of the
war. He then became connected with the
Freedmen's Commission, continuing this
until 1868, when he accepted the pastorate
of the New England Congregational church,
in New York City. A few years later he re-
signed, to devote his time principally to lit-
erary pursuits. For a number of years he
edited for the American Tract Society, its
"Illustrated Christian Weekly," also the
New York "Christian Union." He pro-
duced many works, which had a wide circu-
lation, among which may be mentioned the
following: "Jesus of Nazareth, His Life and
Teachings," "Old Testament Shadows of
New Testament Truths," "Morning and
Evening Exercises, Selected from Writings
of Henry Ward Beecher," "Laicus, or the
Experiences of a Layman in a Country
Parish," "Popular Religious Dictionary,"
and "Commentaries on Matthew, Mark,
Luke, John and Acts."
GEORGE WILLIAM CURTIS.— The
well-known author, orator and journal-
ist whose name heads this sketch, was born
at Providence, Rhode Island, February 24,
1824. Having laid the foundation of a
most excellent education in his native land,
he went to Europe and studied at the Uni-
versity of Berlin. He made an extensive
tour throughout the Levant, from which he
returned home in 1850. At that early age
literature became his field of labor, and in
1851 he published his first important work,
.^
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY.
145
" Nile Notes of a Howadji." In 1852 two
works issued from his facile pen, "The
Howadji in Syria," and "Lotus-Eating."
Later on he was the author of the well-
known " Potiphar Papers," " Prue and I,"
and "Trumps." He greatly distinguished
himself throughout this land as a lecturer
on many subjects, and as an orator had but
few peers. He was also well known as one
of the most fluent speakers on the stump,
making many political speeches in favor of
the Republican party. In recognition of
his valuable services, Mr. Curtis was ap-
pointed by President Grant, chairman of
the advisory board of the civil service. Al-
though a life-long Republican, Mr. Curtis
refused to support Blaine for the presidency
in 1884, because of his ideas on civil ser-
vice and other reforms. For his memorable
and magnificent eulogy on Wendell Phillips,
delivered in Boston, in 1884, that city pre-
sented Mr. Curtis with a gold medal.
George W. Curtis, however, is best
known to the reading public of the United
States by his connection with the Harper
Brothers, having been editor of the " Har-
per's Weekly, " and of the "Easy Chair,"
in " Harper's Monthly Magazine, "for many
years, in fact retaining that position until
the day of his death, which occurred August
31, i89 2 -
ANDREW JOHNSON, the seventeenth
president of the United States, served
from 1865 to 1869. He was born Decem-
ber 8, 1808, at Raleigh, North Carolina,
and was left an orphan at the age of four
years. He never attended school, and was
apprenticed to a tailor. While serving his
apprenticeship he suddenly acquired a pas-
sion for knowledge, and learned to read.
From that time on he spent all his spare
time in reading, and after working for two
years as a journeyman tailor at Lauren's
Court House, South Carolina, he removed
to Greenville, Tennessee, where he worked
at his trade and was married. Under his
wife's instruction he made rapid progress in
his studies and manifested such an interest
in local politics as to be elected as " work-
ingmen's candidate " alderman in 1828, and
in 1830 to the mayoralty, and was twice
re-elected to each office. Mr. Johnson
utilized this time in cultivating his talents
as a public speaker, by taking part in a de-
bating society. He was elected in 1835 to
the lower house of the legislature, was re-
elected in 1839 as a Democrat, and in
1 841 was elected state senator. Mr. John-
son was elected representative in congress
in 1843 and was re-elected four times in
succession until 1S53, when he was the suc-
cessful candidate for the gubernatorial chair
of Tennessee. He was re-elected in 1855
and in 1857 he entered the United States
senate. In i860 he was supported by the
Tennessee delegation to the Democratic
convention for the presidential nomination,
and lent his influence to the Breckinridge
wing of the party. At the election of Lin-
coln, which brought about the first attempt
at secession in December, i860, Mr. John-
son took a firm attitude in the senate for
the Union. He was the leader of the loy-
alists in East Tennessee. By the course
that Mr. Johnson pursued in this crisis he
was brought prominently before the north-
ern people, and when, in March, 1862, he
was appointed military governor of Ten-
nessee with the rank of brigadier-general,
he increased his popularity by the vigorous
manner in which he labored to restore
order. In the campaign of 1S64 he was
elected vice-president on the ticket with
President Lincoln, and upon the assassi-
nation of the latter he succeeded to the
146
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY.
presidency, April 15, 1865. He retained
the cabinet of President Lincoln, and at
first exhibited considerable severity towards
the former Confederates, but he soon inau-
gurated a policy of reconstruction, pro-
claimed a general amnesty to the late Con-
federates, and established provisional gov-
ernments in the southern states. These
states claimed representation in congress in
the following December, and then arose the
momentous question as to what should be
the policy of the victorious Union against
their late enemies. The Republican ma-
jority in congress had an apprehension that
the President would undo the results of the
war, and consequently passed two bills over
the executive veto, and the two highest
branches of the government were in open
antagonism. The cabinet was reconstructed
in July, and Messrs. Randall, Stanbury and
Browning superseded Messrs. Denison,
Speed and Harlan. In August, 1867, Pres-
ident Johnson removed the secretary of war
and replaced him with General Grant, but
when congress met in December it refused
to ratify the removal of Stanton, who re-
sumed the functions of his office. In 1868
the president again attempted to remove
Stanton, who refused to vacate his post
and was sustained by the senate. Presi-
dent Johnson was accused by congress of
high crimes and misdemeanors, but the trial
resulted in his acquittal. Later he was Uni-
ted States senator from Tennessee, and
died July 31, 1875.
EDMUND RANDOLPH, first attorney-
general of the United States, was born
in Virginia, August 10, 1753. His father,
John Randolph, was attorney-general of
Virginia, and lived and died a royalist. Ed-
mund was educated in the law, but joined
the army as aide-de-camp to Washington
in 1775, at Cambridge, Massachusetts. He
was elected to the Virginia convention in
1776, and attorney-general of the state the
same year. In 1779 he was elected to the
Continental congress, and served four years
in that body. He was a member of the con-
vention in 1787 that framed the constitu-
tion. In that convention he proposed what
was known as the " Virginia plan" of con-
federation, but it was rejected. He advo-
cated the ratification of the constitution in
the Virginia convention, although he had re-
fused to sign it. He became governor of
Virginia in 1788, and the next year Wash-
ington appointed him to the office of at-
torney-general of the United States upon
the organization of the government under
the constitution. He was appointed secre-
tary of state to succeed Jefferson during
Washington's second term, but resigned a
year later on account of differences in the
cabinet concerning the policy pursued to-
ward the new French republic. He died
September 12, 181 3.
W INFIELD SCOTT HANCOCK was
born in Montgomery county, Penn-
sylvania, February 14, 1824. He received
his early education at the Norristown
Academy, in his native county, and, in 1840,
was appointed a cadet in the United States
Military Academy, at West Point. He was
graduated from the latter in 1844, and brev-
etted as second lieutenant of infantry. In
1853 he was made first lieutenant, and two
years later transferred to the quartermaster's
department, with the rank of captain, and
in 1863 promoted to the rank of major. He
served on the frontier, and in the war with
Mexico, displaying conspicuous gallantry dur-
ing the latter. He also took a part in the
Seminole war, and in the troubles in Kan-
sas, in 1857, and in California, at the out-
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHT.
147
break of the Civil war, as chief quarter-
master of the Southern district, he exerted
a powerful influence. In 1861 he applied
for active duty in the field, and was assigned
to the department of Kentucky as chief
quartermaster, but before entering upon that
duty, was appointed brigadier-general of
volunteers. His subsequent history during
the war was substantially that of the Army
of the Potomac. He participated in the
campaign, under McClellan, and led the
gallant charge, which captured Fort Magru-
der, won the day at the battle of Wil-
liamsburg, and by services rendered at
Savage's Station and other engagements,
won several grades in the regular service,
and was recommended by McClellan for
major-general of volunteers. He was a con-
spicuous figure at South Mountain and An-
tietam. He was commissioned major-gen-
eral of volunteers, November 29, 1862, and
made commander of the First Division of
the Second Corps, which he led at Fred-
ricksburg and at Chancellorsville. He was
appointed to the command of the Second
Corps in June, 1863, and at the battle of
Gettysburg, July I, 2 and 3, of that year,
took an important part. On his arrival on
the field he found part of the forces then
in retreat, but stayed the retrograde
movement, checked the enemy, and on the
following day commanded the left center,
repulsed, on the third, the grand assault of
General Lee's army, and was severely
wounded. For his services on that field
General Hancock received the thanks of
congress. On recovering from his wound,
he was detailed to go north to stimulate re-
cruiting and fill up the diminished corps, and
was the recipient of many public receptions
and ovations. In March, 1864, he returned
to his command, and in the Wilderness and
at Spottsylvania led large bodies of m< n
successfully and conspicuously. From that
on to the close of the campaign he was a
prominent figure. In November, 1864, he
was detailed to organize the First Veteran
Reserve Corps, and at the close of hostilities
was appointed to the command of the Mid-
dle Military Division. In July, 1866, he
was made major-general of the regular
service. He was at the head of various
military departments until 1872, when he
wasassigned to the command of the Depart-
ment of the Atlantic, which post he held
until his death. In 1869 he declined the
nomination for governor of Pennsylvania.
He was the nominee of the Democratic
party for president, in 1880, and was de-
feated by General Garfield, who had a popu-
lar majority of seven thousand and eighteen
and an electoral majority'.of fifty-nine. Gen-
eral Hancock died February 9, 1886.
THOMAS PAINE, the most noted polit-
ical and deistical writer of the Revolu-
tionary period, was born in England, Jan-
uary 29, 1737, of Quaker parents. His edu-
cation was. obtained in the grammar schools
of Thetford, his native town, and supple-
mented by hard private study while working
at his trade of stay-maker at London and
other cities of England. He was for a time
a dissenting preacher, although he did not
relinquish his employment. He married a
revenue official's daughter, and was employed
in the revenue service for some time. He
then became a grocer and during all this time
he was reading and cultivating his literary
tastes, and had developed a clear and forci-
ble style of composition. He was chosen to
represent the interests of the excisemen,
and published a pamphlet that brought
him considerable notice. He was soon after-
ward introduced to Benjamin Franklin, and
having been dismissed from the service on a
148
COMPEXDICM OF BIOGRAPHY.
charge of smuggling, his resentment led him
to accept the advice of that statesman to
come to America, in 1774. He became
editor of the ' ' Pennsylvania Magazine," and
the next year published his "Serious
Thoughts upon Slavery" in the "Penn-
sylvania Journal." His greatest political
work, however, was written at the sugges-
tion of Dr. Rush, and entitled "Common
Sense." It was the most popular pamphlet
written during the period and he received
two thousand five hundred dollars from the
state of Pennsylvania in recognition of its
value. His periodical, the "Crisis," began
in 1776, and its distribution among the
soldiers did a great deal to keep up the spirit
of revolution. He was made secretary cf
the committee of foreign affairs, but was dis-
missed for revealing diplomatic secrets in
one of his controversies with Silas Deane.
He was originator and promoter of a sub-
scription to relieve the distress of the soldiers
near the close of the war, and was sent to
France with Henry Laurens to negotiate the
treaty with France, and was granted three
thousand dollars by congress for his services
there, and an estate at New Rochelle, by the
state of New York.
In 1787, after the close of the Revolu-
tionary war, he went to France, and a few
years later published his " Rights of Man,"
defending the French revolution, which
gave him great popularity in France. He
was made a citizen and elected to the na-
tional convention at Calais. He favored
banishment of the king to America, and
opposed his execution. He was imprisoned
for about ten months during 1794 by the
Robespierre party, during which time he
wrote the " Age of Reason," his great deis-
tical work. He was in danger of the guillo-
tine for several months. He took up his
residence with the family of James Monroe,
then minister to France and was chosen
again to the convention. He returned
to the United States in 1802, and was
cordially received throughout the coun-
try except at Trenton, where he was insulted
by Federalists. He retired to his estate at
New Rochelle, and his death occurred June
8, 1809.
JOHN WILLIAM MACKAY was one of
America's noted men, both in the de-
velopment of the western coast and the
building of the Mackay and Bennett cable.
He was born in 1831 at Dublin, Ireland;
came to New York in 1840 and his boyhood
days were spent in Park Row. He went
to California some time after the argonauts
of 1849 and took to the primitive methods
of mining — lost and won and finally drifted
into Nevada about i860. The bonanza dis-
coveries which were to have such a potent
influence on the finance and statesmanship
of the day came in 1872. Mr. Mackay
founded the Nevada Bank in 1878. He is
said to have taken one hundred and
fifty million dollars in bullion out of
the Big Bonanza mine. There were as-
sociated with him in this enterprise James
G. Fair, senator from Nevada; William
O'Brien and James C. Flood. When
vast wealth came to Mr. Mackay he be-
lieved it his duty to do his country some
service, and he agitated in his mind the
building of an American steamship line,
and while brooding over this his attention
was called to' the cable relations between
America and Europe. The financial man-
agement of the cable was selfish and ex-
travagant, and the capital was heavy with
accretions of financial " water" and to pay
even an apparent dividend upon the sums
which represented the nominal value of the
cables, it was necessary to hold the rates
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHT.
149
at an exorbitant figure. And, moreover,
the cables were foreign; in one the influence
of France being paramount and in the other
that of England; and in the matter of intel-
ligence, so necessary in case of war, we
would be at the mercy of our enemies. This
train of thought brought Mr. Mackay into re-
lation with James Gordon Bennett, the pro-
prietor of the " New York Herald." The
result of their intercourse was that Mr. Mac-
kay so far entered into the enthusiasm of
Mr. Bennett over an independent cable,
that he offered to sssist the enterprise with
five hundred thousand dollars. This was the
inception of the Commercial Cable Com-
pany, or of what has been known for years
as the Mackav-Bennett cable.
ELISHA GRAY, the great inventor and
electrician, was born August 2, 1835-
at Barnesville, Belmont county, Ohio. He
was, as a child, greatly interested in the
phenomena of nature, and read with avidity
all the books he could obtain, relating to
this subject. He was apprenticed to various
trades during his boyhood, but his insatiable
thirst for knowledge dominated his life and
he found time to study at odd intervals.
Supporting himself by working at his trade,
he found time to pursue a course at Oberlin
College, where he particularly devoted him-
self to the study of physicial science. Mr.
Gray secured his first patent for electrical
or telegraph apparatus on October 1, 1867.
His attention was first attracted to tele-
phonic transmission during this year and he
saw in it a way of transmitting signals for
telegraph purposes, and conceived the idea
of electro-tones, tuned to different tones in
the scale. He did not then realize the im-
portance of his invention, his thoughts being
employed on the capacity of the apparatus
for transmitting musical tones through an
electric circuit, and it was not until 1874
that he was again called to consider the re-
production of electrically-transmitted vibra-
tions through the medium of animal tissue.
He continued experimenting with various
results, which finally culminated in his
taking out a patent for his speaking tele-
phone on February 14, 1876. He took out
fifty additional patents in the course of
eleven years, among which were, telegraph
switch, telegraph repeater, telegraph annun-
ciator and typewriting telegraph. From
1869 until 1873 he was employed in the
manufacture of telegraph apparatus in Cleve-
land and Chicago, and filled the office of
electrician to the Western Electric Com-
pany. He was awarded the degree of D.
S. , and in 1874 he went abroad to perfect
himself in acoustics. Mr. Gray's latest in-
vention was known as the telautograph or
long distance writing machine. Mr. Gray
wrote and published several works on scien-
tific subjects, among which were: "Tele-
graphy and Teiephony," and " Experi-
mental Research in Electro-Harmonic Tele-
graphy and Telephony."
\\ ^HITELAW REID.— Among the many
V V men who have adorned the field of
journalism in the United States, few stand
out with more prominence than the scholar,
author and editor whose name heads this ar-
ticle. Born at Xenia, Greene county, Ohio,
October 27, 1837, he graduated at Miami
University in 1856. For about a year he
was superintendent of the graded schools of
South Charleston, Ohio, after which he pur-
chased the "Xenia News," which he edited
for about two years. This paper was the
first one outside of Illinois to advocate the
nomination of Abraham Lincoln, Mr. Reid
having been a Republican since the birth of
that party in 1856. After taking an active
150
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY,
part in the campaign, in the winter of 1860-
61, he went to the state capital as corres-
pondent of three daily papers. At the close
of the session of the legislature he became
city editor of the "Cincinnati Gazette,"
and at the breaking out of the war went to
the front as a correspondent for that journal.
For a time he served on the staff of General
Morris in West Virginia, with the rank of
captain. Shortly after he was on the staff
of General Rosecrans, and, under the name
of "Agate," wrote most graphic descrip-
tions of the movements in the field, espe-
cially that of the battle ol Pittsburg Land-
ing. In the spring of 1862 Mr. Reid went
to Washington and was appointed librarian
to the house of representatives, and acted as
correspondent of the " Cincinnati Gazette."
His description of the battle of Gettysburg,
written on the field, gained him added
reputation. In 1865 he accompanied Chief
Justice Chase on a southern tour, and pub-
lished "After the War; a Southern Tour. "
During the next two years he was engaged
in cotton planting in Louisiana and Ala-
bama, and published "Ohio in the War."
In 1868 he returned to the " Cincinnati Ga-
zette," becoming one of its leading editors.
The same year he accepted the invitation of
Horace Greeley and became one of the staff
on the " New York Tribune." Upon the
death of Mr. Greeley in 1872, Mr. Reid be-
came editor and chief proprietor of that
paper. In 1878 he was tendered the United
States mission to Berlin, but declined. The
offer was again made by the Garfield ad-
ministration, but again he declined. In
1878 he was elected by the New York legis-
lature regent of the university, to succeed
General John A. Dix. Under the Harrison
administration he served as United States
minister to France, and in 1S92 was the
Republican nominee for the vice-presidency
of the United States. Among other works
published by him were the " Schools of
Journalism," "The Scholar in Politics,"
''Some Newspaper Tendencies," and
"Town-Hall Suggestions."
GEORGE WHITEFIELD was one of
the most powerful and effective preach-
ers the world has ever produced, swaying
his hearers and touching the hearts of im-
mense audiences in a manner that has rarely
been equalled and never surpassed. While
not a native of America, yet much of his
labor was spent in this country. He wielded
a great influence in the United States in
early days, and his death occurred here; so
that he well deserves a place in this volume
as one of the most celebrated men America
has known.
George Whitefield was born in the Bull
Inn, at Gloucester, England, December 16,
1 7 14. He acquired the rudiments of learn-
ing in St. Mary's grammar school. Later
he attended Oxford University for a time,
where he became intimate with the Oxford
Methodists, and resolved to devote himself
to the ministry. He was ordained in the
Gloucester Cathedral June 20, 1S36, and
the following day preached his first sermon
in the same church. On that day there
commenced a new era in Whitefield's life.
He went to London and began to preach at
Bishopsgate church, his fame soon spread-
ing over the city, and shortly he was en-
gaged four times on a single Sunday in ad-
dressing audiences of enormous magnitude,
and he preached in various parts of his native
country, the people crowding in multitudes
to hear him and hanging upon the rails and
rafters of the churches and approaches there-
to. He finally sailed for America, landing
in Georgia, where he stirred the people to
great enthusiasm. During the balance cf
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHT.
153
his life he divided his time between Great
Britain and America, and it is recorded that
he crossed the Atlantic thirteen times. He
came to America for the seventh time in
1770. He preached every day at Boston
from the 17th to the 20th of September,
1770, then traveled to Newburyport, preach-
ing at Exeter, New Hampshire, September
-29, on the way. That evening he went to
Newburyport, where he died the next day,
Sunday, September 30, 1770.
' ' Whitefield's dramatic power was amaz-
ing, " says an eminent writer in describing
him. " His voice was marvelously varied,
and he ever had it at command — an organ,
a flute, a harp, all in one. His intellectual
powers were not of a high order, but he had
an abundance of that ready talent and that
wonderful magnetism which makes the pop-
ular preacher; and beyond all natural en-
dowments, there was in his ministry the
power of evangelical truth, and, as his con-
verts believed, the presence of the spirit of
God."
CHARLES FRANCIS BRUSH, one of
America's prominent men in the devel-
opment of electrical science, was born March
17, 1849, near Cleveland, Ohio, and spent
his early life on his father's farm. From
the district school at Wickliffe, Ohio, he
passed to the Shaw Academy at Collamer,
and then entered the high school at Cleve-
land. His interest in chemistry, physics
and engineering was already marked, and
during his senior year he was placed in
charge of the chemical and physical appar-
atus. During these years he devised a plan
for lighting street lamps, constructed tele-
scopes, and his first electric arc lamp, also
an electric motor. In September, 1867, he
entered the engineering department of the
University of Michigan and graduated in
9
1869, which was a year in advance of his
class, with the degree of M. E. He then
returned to Cleveland, and for three years
was engaged as an analytical chemist and
for four years in the iron business. In
1875 Mr. Brush became interested in elec-
tric lighting, and in 1876, after four months'
experimenting, he completed the dynamo-
electric machine that has made his name
famous, and in a shorter time produced the
series arc lamps. These were both patent-
ed in the United States in 1876, and he
afterward obtained fifty patents on his later
inventions, including the fundamental stor-
age battery, the compound series, shunt-
winding for dynamo-electric machines, and
the automatic cut-out for arc lamps. His
patents, two-thirds of which have already
been profitable, are held by the Brush
Electric Company, of Cleveland, while his
foreign patents are controlled by the Anglo-
American Brush Electric Light Company,
of London. In 1S80 the Western Reserve
University conferred upon Mr. Brush the
degree of Ph. D., and in 1881 the French
government decorated him as a chevalier of
the Legion of Honor.
HENRY CLEWS, of Wall-street fame,
was one of the noted old-time opera-
tors on that famous street, and was also an
author of some repute. Mr. Clews was
born in Staffordshire, England, August 14,
1840. His father had him educated with
the intention of preparing him for the minis-
try, but on a visit to the United States the
young man became interested in a business
life, and was allowed to engage as a clerk in
the importing house of Wilson G. Hunt &
Co., of New York. Here he learned the
first principles of business, and when the war
broke out in 1861 young Clews saw in the
needs of the government an opportunity to
1S4
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY.
reap a golden harvest. He identified him-
self with the negotiating of loans for the
government, and used his powers of pur-
suasion upon the great money powers to
convince them of the stability of the govern-
ment and the value of its securities. By
enthusiasm and patriotic arguments he in-
duced capitalists to invest their money in
government securities, often against their
judgment, and his success was remarkable.
His was one of the leading firms that aided
the struggling treasury department in that
critical hour, and his reward was great. In
addition to the vast wealth it brought,
President Lincoln and Secretary Chase
both wrote important letters, acknowledging
his valued service. In 1873, by the repu-
diation of the bonded indebtedness of the
state of Georgia, Mr. Clews lost six million
dollars which he had invested in those se-
curities. It is said that he is the only man,
with one exception, in Wall street, who
ever regained great wealth after utter dis-
aster. His " Twenty-Eight Years in Wall
Street " has been widely read.
ALFRED VAIL was one of the men that
gave to the world the electric telegraph
and the names of Henry, Morse and Vail
will forever remain linked as the prime fac-
tors in that great achievement. Mr. Vail
was born September 25, 1807, at Morris-
town, New Jersey, and was a son of Stephen
Vail, the proprietor of the Speedwell Iron
Works, near Morristown. At the age of
seventeen, after he had completed his stud-
ies at the Morristown Academy, Alfred Vail
went into the Speedwell Iron Works and
contented himself with the duties of his
position until he reached his majority. He
then determined to prepare himself for the
ministry, and at the age of twenty-five he
entered the University of the City of New
York, where he was graduated in 1836. His
health becoming impaired he labored for a
time under much uncertainty as to his future
course. Professor S. F. B. Morse had come
to the university in 1835 as professor of lit-
erature and fine arts, and about this time,
1S37, Professor Gale, occupying the chair
of chemistry, invited Morse to exhibit his
apparatus for the benefit of the students.
On Saturday, September 2, 1837, the exhi-
bition took place and Vail was asked to at-
tend, and with his inherited taste for me-
chanics and knowledge of their construction,
he saw a great future for the crude mechan-
ism used by Morse in giving and recording
signals. Mr. Vail interested his father in
the invention, and Morse was invited to
Speedwell and the elder Vail promised to
help him. It was stipulated that Alfred
Vail should construct the required apparatus
and exhibit before a committee of congress
the telegraph instrument, and was to receive
a quarter interest in the invention. Morse
had devised a series of ten numbered leaden
types, which were to be operated in giving
the signal. This was not satisfactory to
Vail, so he devised an entirely new instru-
ment, involving a lever, or "point," on a
radically different principle, which, when'
tested, produced dots and dashes, and de-
vised the famous dot-and-dash alphabet,
misnamed the "Morse." At last the ma-
chine was in working order, on January 6,
1838. The machine was taken to Wash-
ington, where it caused not only wonder,
but excitement. Vail continued his experi-
ments and devised the lever and roller.
When the line between Baltimore and-
Washington was completed, Vail was sta-
tioned at the Baltimore end and received
the famous first message. It is a remarka-
ble fact that not a single feature of the
original invention of Morse, as formulated
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY
155
by his caveat and repeated in his original
patent, is to be found in Vail's apparatus.
From 1S37 to 1844 it was a combination of
the inventions of Morse, Henry and Vail,
but the work of Morse fell gradually into
desuetude, while Vail's conception of an
alphabet has remained unchanged for half a
century. Mr. Vail published but one work,
"American Electro-Magnetic Telegraph,"
in 1845, and died at Morristown at the com-
paratively early age of fifty-one, on January
19. i859-
ULYSSES S. GRANT, the eighteenth
president of the United States, was
born April 27, 1822, at Point Pleasant, Cler-
mont county, Ohio. At the age of seven-
teen he entered the United States Military
Academy at West Point, from which he
graduated in June, 1S43, and was given his
brevet as second lieutenant and assigned to
the Fourth Infantry. He remained in the
service eleven years, in which time he
was engaged in the Mexican war with gal-
lantry, and was thrice brevetted for conduct
in the field. In 1848 he married Miss Julia
Dent, and in 1854, having reached the
grade of captain, he resigned and engaged
in farming near St. Louis. In i860 he en-
tered the leather business with his father at
Galena, Illinois.
On the breaking out of the war, in 1861,
he commenced to drill a company at Ga-
lena, and at the same time offered his serv-
ices to the adjutant-general of the army,
but he had few influential friends, so re-
ceived no answer. He was employed by
the governor of Illinois in the organization
of the various volunteer regiments, and at
the end of a few weeks was given the
colonelcy of the Twenty- first Infantry, from
that state. His military training and knowl-
edge soon attracted the attention of his su-
perior officers, and on reporting to General
Pope in Missouri, the latter put him in
the way of advancement. August 7, 1S61,
he was promoted to the rank of brigadier-
general of volunteers, and for a few weeks
was occupied in watching the movements of
partisan forces in Missouri. September 1,
the same year, he was placed in command
of the Department of Southeast Missouri,
with headquarters at Cairo, and on the 6th
of the month, without orders, seized Padu-
cah, which commanded the channel of the
Ohio and Tennessee rivers, by which he se-
cured Kentucky for the Union. He now
received orders to make a demonstration on
Belmont, which he did, and with about three
thousand raw recruits held his own against
the Confederates some seven thousand
strong, bringing back about two hundred
prisoners and two guns. In February,] 1 S62,
he moved up the Tennessee river with
the naval fleet under Commodore Foote.
The latter soon silenced Fort Henry, and
Grant advanced against Fort Donelson and
took their fortress and its garrison. His
prize here consisted of sixty-five cannon,
seventeen thousand six hundred stand of
arms, and fourteen thousand six hundred
and twenty-three prisoners. This was the
first important success won by the Union
forces. Grant was immediately made a
major-general and placed in command of
the district of West Tennessee. In April,
1 862, he fought the battle of Pittsburg Land-
ing, and after the evacuation of Corinth by
the enemy Grant became commander of the
Department of the Tennessee. He now
made his first demonstration toward Vicks-
burg, but owing to the incapacity of subor-
dinate officers, was unsuccessful. In Janu-
ary, 1863, he took command of all the
troops in the Mississippi Valley and devoted
several months to the siege of Vicksburg,
156
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY.
which was finally taken possession of by him
July 4, with thirty-one thousand six hundred
prisoners and one hundred and seventy-two
cannon, thus throwing the Mississippi river
open to the Federals. He was now raised
to the rank of major-general in the regular
army. October following, at the head of
the Department of the Mississippi, General
Grant went to Chattanooga, where he over-
threw the enemy, and united with the Army
of the Cumberland. The remarkable suc-
cesses achieved by him pointed Grant out
for an appropriate commander of all na-
tional troops, and in February, 1864, the
rank of lieutenant-general was made for- him
by act of congress. Sending Sherman into
Georgia, Sigel into the Valley of West Vir-
ginia and Butler to attempt the capture of
Richmond he fought his way through the
Wilderness to the James and pressed the
siege of the capital of the Confederacy.
After the fall of the latter Grant pressed
the Confederate army so hard that their
commander surrendered at Appomattox
Court House, April 9, 1865. This virtually
ended the war.
After the war the rank of general was
conferred upon U. S. Grant, and in 1868 he
was elected president of the United States,
and re-elected his own successor in 1872.
After the expiration of the latter term he
made his famous tour of the world. He died
at Mt. McGregor, near Saratoga, New York,
July 23, 18S5, and was buried at Riverside
Park, New York, where a magnificent tomb
has been erected to hold the ashes of the
nation's hero.
JOHN MARSHALL, the fourth chief jus-
<J tice of the United States supreme court,
was born in Germantown, Virginia, Septem-
ber 24, 1755. His father, Colonel Thomas
Marshall, served with distinction in the Rev-
olutionary war, while he also served from
the beginning of the war until 1779, where
he became noted in the field and courts
martial. While on detached service he at-
tended a course, of law lectures at William
and Mary College, delivered by Mr. Wythe,
and was admitted to the bar. The next year
he resigned his commission and began his
career as a lawyer. He was a distinguished
member of the convention called in Virginia
to ratify the Federal constitution. He was
tendered the attorney-generalship of the
United States, and also a place on the su-
preme bench, besides other places of less
honor, all of which he declined. He
went to France as special envoy in 1798,
and the next year was elected to congress.
He served one year and was appointed, first,
secretary of war, and then secretary of state,
and in 1801 was made chief justice of the
United States. He held this high office un-
til his death, in 1835.
Chief Justice Marshall's early education
was neglected, and his opinions, the most
valuable in existence, are noted for depth
of wisdom, clear and comprehensive reason-
ing, justice, and permanency, rather than for
wide learning and scholarly construction.
His decisions and rulings are resorted to
constantly by our greatest lawyers, and his
renown as a just judge and profound jurist
was world wide.
LAWRENCE BARRETT is perhaps
known more widely as a producer of
new plays than as a great actor. He was
born in Paterson, New Jersey, in 1838, and
educated himself as best he could, and at
the age of sixteen years became salesman
for a Detroit dry goods house. He after-
wards began to go upon the stage as a
supernumerary, and his ambition was soon
rewarded by the notice of the management.
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHT.
157
During the war of the Rebellion he was a
soldier, and after valiant service for his
country he returned to the stage. He went
to Europe and appeared in Liverpool, and
returning in 1869, he began playing at
Booth's theater, with Mr. Booth. He was
afterward associated with John McCullough
in the management of the California
theater. Probably the most noted period
of his work was during his connection with
Edwin Booth as manager of that great
actor, and supporting him upon the stage.
Mr. Barrett was possessed of the crea-
tive instinct, and, unlike Mr. Booth, he
sought new fields for the display of his
genius, and only resorted to traditional
drama in response to popular demand. He
preferred new plays, and believed in the
encouragement of modern dramatic writers,
and was the only actor of prominence in his
time that ventured to put upon the stage
new American plays, which he did at his
own expense, and the success of his experi-
ments proved the quality of his judgment.
He died March 21, 1891.
A RCHBISHOP JOHN HUGHES, a cel-
i\ ebrated Catholic clergyman, was born
at Annaboghan, Tyrone county, Ireland,
June 24, 1797, and emigrated to America
when twenty years of age, engaging for
some time as a gardener and nurseryman.
In 1 8 19 he entered St. Mary's College,
where he secured an education, paying his
way by caring for the college garden. In
1825 he was ordained a deacon of the Ro-
man Catholic church, and in the same year,
a priest. Until 1 838 he had pastoral charges
in Philadelphia, where he founded St. John's
Asylum in 1S29, and a few years later es-
tablished the "Catholic Herald." In 1838
he was made bishop of Basileopolis in parti-
bus and coadjutor to Bishop Dubois, of
New York, and in 1842 became bishop of
New York. In 1839 he founded St. John's
College, at Fordham. In 1850 he was
made archbishop of New York. In 186 1-2
he was a special agent of the United States
in Europe, after which he returned to this
country and remained until his death, Jan-
uary 3, 1864. Archbishop Hughes early
attracted much attention by his controver-
sial correspondence with Rev. John Breck-
inridge in 1833-35. He was a man of great
ability, a fluent and forceful writer and an
able preacher.
RUTHERFORD BIRCHARD HAYES
was the nineteenth president of the
United States and served from 1877 to 1881.
He was born October 4, 1822, at Delaware,
Ohio, and his ancestry can be traced back
as far as 12S0, when Hayes and Rutherford
v.cre two Scottish chieftans fighting side by
side with Baliol, William Wallace and
Robert Bruce. The Hayes family had for
a coat of arms, a shield, barred and sur-
mounted by a flying eagle. There was a
circle of stars about the eagle, while on a
scroll underneath was their motto, "Recte. "
Misfortune overtook the family and in 1680
George Hayes, the progenitor of the Ameri-
can family, came to Connecticut and settled
at Windsor. Rutherford B. Hayes was
a very delicate child at his birth and was
not expected to live, but he lived in spite of
all and remained at home until he was
seven years old, when he was placed in
school. He was a very tractablepupil, being
always very studious, and in 1838 entered
Kenyon College, graduating from the same
in 1842. He then took up the study of law
in the office of Thomas Sparrow at Colum-
bus, but in a short time he decided to enter
a law school at Cambridge, Massachusetts,
where for two years he was immersed in the
1 '■
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY,
study of law. Mr. Hayes was admitted to
the bar in 1845 in Marietta, Ohio, and very
soon entered upon the active practice of his
profession with Ralph P. Buckland, of
Fremont, Ohio. He remained there three
years, and in 1849 removed to Cincinnati,
Ohio, where his ambition found a new
stimulus. Two events occurred at this
period that had a powerful influence on his
after life. One was his marriage to Miss
Lucy Ware Webb, and the other was his
introduction to a Cincinnati literary club,
a body embracing such men as Salmon P.
Chase, John Pope, and Edward F. Noyes.
In 1856 he was nominated for judge of the
court of common pleas, but declined, and
two years later he was appointed city
solicitor. At the outbreak of the Rebellion
Mr. Hayes was appointed major of the
Twenty-third Ohio Infantry, June 7, 1861,
and in July the regiment was ordered to
■Virginia, and October 15, 1861, saw him
promoted to the lieutenant-colonelcy of his
regiment. He was made colonel of the
Seventy-ninth Ohio Infantry, but refused to
leave his old comrades; and in the battle of
South Mountain he was wounded very
severely and was unable to rejoin his regi-
ment until November 30, 1862. He had
been promoted to the colonelcy of the
regiment on October 15, 1862. In the
following December he was appointed to
command the Kanawa division and was
given the rank of brigadier-general for
meritorious services in several battles, and
in 1864 he was brevetted major-general for
distinguished services in 1864, during
which campaign he was wounded several
times and five horses had been shot under
him. Mr. Hayes' first venture in politics
was as a Whig, and later he was one of the
first to unite with the Republican party. In
1864 he was elected from the Second Ohio
district to congress, re-elected in 1866,
and in 1867 was elected governor of Ohio
over Allen G. Thurman, and was re-elected
in 1869. Mr. Hayes was elected to the
presidency in 1876, for the term of four
years, and at its close retired to private life,
and went to his home in Fremont, Ohio,
where he died on January 17, 1893.
WILLIAM JENNINGS BRYAN became
a celebrated character as the nominee
of the Democratic and Populist parties for
president of the United States in 1896. He
was born March 19, 1S60, at Salem, Illi-
nois. He received his early education in
the public schools of his native county, and
later on he attended the Whipple Academy
at Jacksonville. He also took a course in
Illinois College, and after his graduation
from the same went to Chicago to study
law, and entered the Union College of Law
as a student. He was associated with the
late Lyman Trumbull, of Chicago, during
his law studies, and devoted considerable
time to the questions of government. He
graduated from the college, was admitted to
the bar, and went to Jacksonville, Illinois,
where he was married to Miss Miry Eliza-
beth Baird. In 1887 Mr. Bryan removed
to Lincoln, Nebraska, and formed a law
partnership with Adolphus R. Talbot. He
entered the field of politics, and in 1S8S
was sent as a delegate to the state con-
vention, which was to choose delegates to
the national convention, during which he
made a speech which immediately won him
a high rank in political affairs. He declined,
in the next state convention, a nomination
for lieutenant-governor, and in 1890 he was
elected congressman from the First district
of Nebraska, and was the youngest member
of the fifty-seconj congress. He cham-
oioned the Wilson tariff bill, and served
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPII1'.
159
three terms in the house of representatives.
He next ran for senator, but was defeated
by John M. Thurston, and in 1896 he was
selected by the Democratic and Populist
parties as their nominee for the presidency,
being defeated by William McKinley.
MARVIN HU'
famous rail
IUGHITT, one of America's
ilroad men, was born in
Genoa, New York, and entered the railway
service in 1S56 as superintendent of tele-
graph and trainmaster of the St. Louis, Al-
ton & Chicago, now Chicago & Alton Rail-
road. Mr. Hughitt was superintendent of
the southern division of the Illinois Central
Railroad from 1862 until 1864, and was, later
on, the general superintendent of the road
until 1870. He was then connected with
the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Rail-
road as assistant general manager, and re-
tained this position until 1871, when he be-
came the general manager of Pullman's
Palace Car Company. In 1872 he was made
general superintendent of the Chicago &
Northwestern Railroad. He served during
1876 and up to 18S0 as general manager,
and from 1880 until 1887 as vice-presi-
dent and general manager. He was elected
president of the road in 1887, in recog-
nition of his ability in conducting the
affairs of the road. He was also chosen
president of the Chicago, St. Paul, Minne-
apolis & Omaha Railway; the Fremont, Elk-
horn & Missouri Valley Railroad, and the
Milwaukee, Lake Shore & Western Railroad,
and his services in these capacities stamped
him as one of the most able railroad mana-
gers of his day.
JOSEPH MEDILL, one of the most
eminent of American journalists, was
born in New Brunswick, Canada, April 6,
1823. In 1831 his father moved to Stark
count}', Ohio, and until 1841 Joseph Medill
worked on his father's farm. Later he
studied law, and began the practice of that
profession in 1846 at New Philadelphia,
Ohio. But the newspaper field was more
attractive to Mr. Medill, and three years
later he founded a free-soil Whig paper at
Coshocton, Ohio, and after that time jour-
nalism received all his abilities. "The
Leader, " another free-soil Whig paper, was
founded by Mr. Medill at Cleveland in 1852.
In that city he also became one of the first
organizers of the Republican party. Shortly
after that event he removed to Chicago and
in 1855, with two partners, he purchased
the " Chicago .Tribune." In the contest for
the nomination for the presidency in i860,
Mr. Medill worked with unflagging zeal for
Mr. Lincoln, his warm personal friend, and
was one of the president's stanchest sup-
porters during the war. Mr. Medill was a,
member of the Illinois Constitutional con-
vention in 1870. President Grant, in 1871,
appointed the editor a member of the first
United States civil service commission, and
the following year, after the fire, he was
elected mayor of Chicago by a great ma-
jority. During 1873 and 1874 Mr. Medill
spent a year in Europe. Upon his return
he purchased a controlling interest in the
" Chicago Tribune."
CLAUSSPRECKELS, the great " sugar
baron," and one of the most famous
representatives of commercial life in Amer-
ica, was born in Hanover, Germany, and
emigrated to the United States in 1840,
locating in New York. He very soon be-
came the proprietor of a small retail gro-
cery store on Church street, and embarked
on a career that has since astonished the
world. He sold out his business and went
to California with the argonauts of 1849,
100
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRATHl'.
not as a prospector, but as a trader, and for
years after his arrival on the coast he was
still engaged as a grocer. At length, after a
quarter of a century of fairly prosperous
business life, he found himself in a position
where an ordinary man would have retired,
but Mr. Spreckles did not retire; he had
merely been gathering capital for the real
work of his life. His brothers had followed
him to California, and in combination with
them he purchased for forty thousand dollars
an interest in the Albany Brewery in San
Francisco. But the field was not extensive
enough for the development of his business
abilities, so Mr. Sprecklas branched out
extensively in the sugar business. He suc-
ceeded in securing the entire output of
sugar that was produced on the Sand-
wich Islands, and after 1885 was known as
the "Sugar King of Sandwich Islands."
He controlled absolutely the sugar trade of
the Pacific coast which was known to be
not less than ten million dollars a year.
CHARLES HENRY PARKHURST,
famous as a clergyman, and for many
years president of the Society for the
Prevention of Crime, was born April 17,
1842, at Framingham, Massachusetts, of
English descent. At the age of sixteen
he was pupil in the grammar school at
Clinton, Massachusetts, and for the ensu-
ing two years was a clerk in a dry goods
store, which position he gave up to prepare
himself for college at Lancaster academy.
Mr. Parkhurst went to Amherst in 1862,
and after taking a thorough course he gradu-
ated in 1866, and in 1867 became the prin-
cipal of the Amherst High School. He re-
tained this position until 1870, when he
visited Germany with the intention of tak-
ing a course in philosophy and theology,
but was forced to abandon this intention on
account of illness in the family causing his
early return from Europe. He accepted the
chair of Latin and Greek in Williston Semi-
nary, Easthampton, Massachusetts, and re-
mained there two years. He then accom-
panied his wife to Europe, and devoted two
years to study in Halle, Leipsic and Bonn.
Upon his return home he spent considerable
time in the study of Sanscrit, and in 1874
he became the pastor of the First Congrega-
tional church at Lenox, Massachusetts. He
gained here his reputation as a pulpit ora-
tor, and on March 9, 1880, he became the
pastor of the Madison Square Presbyterian
church of New York. He was, in 1890,
made a member of the Society for the Pre-
vention of Crime, and the same year be-
came its president. He delivered a sermon
in 1S92 on municipal corruption, for which
he was brought before the grand jury, which
body declared his charges to be without suffi-
cient foundation. But the matter did not end
here, for he immediately went to work on a
second sermon in which he substantiated his
former sermon and wound up by saying,
"I know, for I have seen." He was again
summoned before that august body, and as
a result of his testimony and of the investi-
gation of the jurors themselves, the police
authorities were charged with incompetency
and corruption. Dr. Parkhurst was the
author of the following works: "The Forms
of the Latin Verb, Illustrated by Sanscrit,"
"The Blind Man's Creed and Other Ser-
mons," "The Pattern on the Mount," and
" Three Gates on a Side."
HENRY BERGH, although a writer,
diplomatist and government official,
was noted as a philanthropist — the founder
of the American Society for the Prevention
of Cruelty to Animals. On his labors for
the dumb creation alone rests his fame.
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY.
161
Alone, in the face of indifference, opposition
and ridicule, he began the reform which is
now recognized as one of the beneficent
movements of the age. Through his exer-
tions as a speaker and lecturer, but above
all as a bold worker, in the street, in the
court room, before the legislature, the cause
he adopted gained friends and rapidly in-
creased in power until it has reached im-
mense proportions and influence. The work
of the society covers all cases of cruelty to
all sorts of animals, employs every moral
agency, social, legislative and personal, and
touches points of vital concern to health as
well as humanity.
Henry Bergh was born in New York
City in 1823, and was educated at Colum-
bia College. In 1863 he was made secre-
tary of the legation to Russia and also
served as vice-consul there. He also de-
voted some time to literary pursuits and was
the author of "Love's Alternative," a
drama; "Married Off," a poem; "'The
Portentous Telegram," "The Ocean Para-
gon;" "The Streets of New York," tales
and sketches.
HENRY BENJAMIN WHIPPLE, one
of the most eminent of American di-
vines, was born in Adams, Jefferson county,
New York, February 15, 1822. He was
brought up in the mercantile business, and
early in life took an active interest in polit-
ical affairs. In 1847 he became a candidate
for holy orders and pursued theological
studies with Rev. W. D. Wilson, D. D.,
afterward professor in Cornell University.
He was ordained deacon in 1849, in Trinity
church, Geneva, New York, by Rt. Rev.
W. H. De Lancey, D. D., and took charge
of Zion church, Rome, New York, Decem-
ber 1, 1849. In 1850, our subject was or-
dained priest by Bishop De Lancey. In
1857 he became rector of the Church of the
Holy Communion, Chicago. On the 30th
of June, 1859, he was chosen bishop of
Minnesota, and took charge of the interests
of the Episcopal church in that state, being
located at Faribault. In i860 Bishop
Whipple, with Revs. I. L. Breck, S. W.
Mauncey and E. S. Peake, organized the
Bishop Seabury Mfission, out of which has
grown the Cathedral of Our Merciful Savior,
the Seabury Divinity School, Shattuck
School and St. Mary's Hall, which have
made Faribault City one of the greatest
educational centers of the northwest. Bishop
Whipple also became noted as the friend
and defender of the North American In-
dians and planted a number of successful
missions among them.
EZRA CORNELL was one of the greatest
philanthropists and friends of education
the country has known. He was born at
Westchester Landing, New York, January
1 1, 1807. He grew to manhood in his na-
tive state and became a prominent figure in
business circles as a successful and self-made
man. Soon after the invention of the elec-
tric telegraph, he devoted his attention to
that enterprise, and accumulated an im-
mense fortune. In 1865, by a gift of five
hundred thousand dollars, he made possible
the founding of Cornell University, which
was named in his honor. He afterward
made additional bequests amountingto many
hundred thousand dollars. His death oc-
curred at Ithaca, New York, December 9,
1874-
TGNATIUS DONNELLY, widely known
I as an author and politician, was born in
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, November 3,
1 83 1. He was educated at the public
schools of that city, and graduated from the
162
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY.
Central High School in 1849. He studied
law in the office of Judge B. H. Brewster,
and was admitted to the bar in 1852. In
the spring of 1856, Mr. Donnelly emigrated
to Minnesota, then a new territory, and, at
Hastings, resumed the practice of law in
partnership with A. M. Hayes. In 1857,
and again in 1858, he was defeated for state
senator, but in 1859 he was elected by the
Republicans as lieutenant-governor, and re-
elected in 1 86 1. In 1862 he was elected to
represent the Second district of Minnesota
in congress. He was re-elected to the same
office in 1864 and in 1866. He was an
abolitionist and warmly supported President
Lincoln's administration, but was strongly
in favor of leniency toward the people of
the south, after the war. In many ways he
was identified with some of the best meas-
ures brought before the house during his
presence there. In the spring of 1868, at
the request of the Republican national com-
mittee, he canvassed New Hampshire and
Connecticut in the interests of that party.
E. B. Washburne about this time made an
attack on Donnelly in one of the papers of
Minnesota, which was replied to on the floor
of the house by a fierce phillipic that will
long be remembered. Through the inter-
vention of the Washburne interests Mr. Don-
nelly failed -of a re-election in 1870. In
1873 he was elected to the state senate from
Dakota county, and continuously re-elected
until 1878. In 1886 he was elected mem-
ber of the house for two years. In later
years he identified himself with the Popu-
list party.
In 1882, Mr. Donnelly became known as
an author, publishing his first literary work,
"Atlantis, the Antediluvian World," which
passed through over twenty-two editions in
America, several in England, and was trans-
lated into French. This was followed by
" Ragnarok, the Age of Fire and Gravel,"
which attained nearly as much celebrity as
the first, and these two, in the opinion of
scientific critics, are sufficient to stamp the
author as a most capable and painstaking
student of the facts he has collated in them.
The work by which he gained the greatest
notoriety, however, was ' ' The Great Cryp-
togram, or Francis Bacon's Cipher in the
Shakespeare Plays." "Csesar's Colurnn,"
" Dr. Huguet," and other works were pub-
lished subsequently.
STEVEN V. WHITE, a speculator of
Wall Street of national reputation, was
born in Chatham county, North Carolina,
August 1, 1 83 1, and soon afterward re-
moved to Illinois. His home was a log
cabin, and until his eighteenth year he
worked on the farm. Then after several
years of struggle with poverty he graduated
from Knox College, and went to St. Louis,
where he entered a wholesale boot and shoe
house as bookkeeper. He then studied law
and worked as a reporter for the "Missouri
Democrat." After his admission to the bar
he went to New York, in 1865, and became
a member of the banking house of Marvin
& White. Mr. White enjoyed the reputa-
tion of having engineered the only corner
in Wall Street since Commodore Vander-
bilt's time. This was the famous Lacka-
wanna deal in 1883, in which he made a
profit of two million dollars. He was some-
times called " Deacon" White, and, though
a member for many years of the Plymouth
church, he never held that office. Mr.
White was one of the most noted characters
of the street, and has been called an orator,
poet, philanthropist, linguist, abolitionist,
astronomer, schoolmaster, plowboy, and
trapper. He was a lawyer, ex-congress-
man, expert accountant, art critic and theo-
COMPEXO/CM OF BIOGRAPI/r.
163
ldgian. He laid the foundation for a
"Home for Colored People," in Chatham
county, North Carolina, where the greater
part of his father's life was spent, and in
whose memory the work was undertaken.
JAMES A. GARFIELD, the twentieth
president of the United States, was born
November 19, 1831, in Cuyahoga county,
Ohio, and was the son of Abram and Eliza
(Ballou) Garfield. In 1833 the father, an
industrious pioneer farmer, died, and the
care of the family devolved upon Thomas,
to whom James became deeply indebted for
educational and other advantages. As James
grew up he was industrious and worked on
the farm, at carpentering, at chopping wood,
or anything else he found to do, and in the
meantime made the most of his books.
Until he was about sixteen, James' high-
est ambition was to become a' sea captain.
On attaining that age he walked to
Cleveland, and, not being able to find work,
he engaged as a driver on the Ohio & Penn-
sylvania canal, but quit this after a short
time. He attended the seminary at Ches-
ter for about three years, after which he
entered Hiram Institute, a school started by
the Disciples of Christ in 1850. In order
to pay his way he assumed the duties of
janitor and at times taught school. After
completing his course at the last named edu-
cational institution he entered Williams Col-
lege, from which he graduated in 1856. He
afterward returned to Hiram College as its
president. He studied law and was admitted
to the bar in 1859. November 11, 1858,
Mr. Garfield and Lucretia Rudolph were
married.
In 1859 Mr. Garfield made his first polit-
ical speeches, at Hiram and in the neighbor-
hood. The same year he was elected to the
state senate.
On the breaking out of the war, in 1861,
he became lieutenant-colonel of the Forty-
second Ohio Infantry, and, while but a new
soldier, was given command of four regi-
ments of infantry and eight companies of
cavalry, with which he drove the Confeder-
ates under Humphrey Marshall out of Ken-
tucky. January 11, 1862, he was commis-
sioned brigadier-general. He participated
with General Buell in the battle of Shiloh
and the operations around Corinth, and was
then detailed as a member of the Fitz John
Porter court-martial. Reporting to General
Rosecrans, he was assigned to the position
of chief of staff, and resigned his position,
with the rank of major-general, when his
immediate superior was superseded. In
the fall of 1862 Mr. Garfield was elected to
congress and remained in that body, either
in the house or senate, until 1880.
June 8, 1880, at the national Republican
convention, held in Chicago, General Gar-
field was nominated for the presidency, and
was elected. He was inaugurated March
4, 1 88 1, but, July 2, following, he was shot
and fatally wounded by Charles Guiteau for
some fancied political slight, and died Sep-
tember 19, 1 88 1 .
INCREASE MATHER was one of the
1 most prominent preachers, educators and
authors of early times in the New England
states. He was born at Dorchester, Massa-
chusetts, June 21, 1639, and was given an
excellent education, graduating at Harvard
in 1656, and at Trinity College, Dublin,
two years later. He was ordained a min-
ister, and preached in England and America,
and in 1664 became pastor of the North
church, in Boston. In 1685 he became
president of Harvard University, serving
until 1 701. In 1692 he received the first
doctorate in divinity conferred in English
164
C0MPEXD1UM OF BIOGRAPfir.
speaking America. The same year he pro-
cured in England a new charter for Massa-
chusetts, which conferred upon himself the
power of naming the governor, lieutenant-
governor and council. He opposed the
severe punishment of witchcraft, and took
a prominent part in all public affairs of his
day. He was a prolific writer, and became
the author of nearly one hundred publica-
tions, large and small. His death occurred
August 23, 1723, at Boston.
COTTON MATHER, a celebrated minis-
ter in the "Puritan times" of New
England, was born at Boston, Massachu-
setts, February 12, 1663, being a son of
Rev. Increase Mather, and a grandson of
John Cotton. A biography of his father
will be found elsewhere in this volume.
Cotton Mather received his early education
in his native city, was trained by Ezekiel
Cheever, and graduated at Harvard College
in 1678; became a teacher, and in 1684
was ordained as associate pastor of North
church, Boston, with his father, having by
persistent effort overcome an impediment in
his speech. He labored with great zeal as
a pastor, endeavoring also, to establish the
ascendancy of the church and ministry in
civil affairs, and in the putting down of
witchcraft by legal sentences, a work in
which he took an active part and through
which he is best known in history. He re-
ceived the degree of D. D. in 17 10, con-
ferred by the University of Glasgow, and
F. R. S. in 171 3. His death occurred at
Boston, February 13, 1728. He was the
author of many publications, among which
were " Memorable Providences Relating to
Witchcraft," "Wonders of the Invisible
World," "Essays to Do Good," " Mag-
nalia Christi Americana," and " Illustra-
tions of the Sacred Scriptures." Some of
these works are quaint and curious, full of
learning, piety and prejudice. A well-
known writer, in summing up the life and
character of Cotton Mather, says: ' ' Mather,
with all the faults of his early years, was a
man of great excellence of character. He
labored zealously for the benefit of the
poor, for mariners, slaves, criminals and
Indians. His cruelty and credulity were
the faults of his age, while his philanthro-
phy was far more rare in that age than in
the present."
WILLIAM A. PEFFER, who won a
national reputation during the time
he was in the United States senate, was
born on a farm in Cumberland county,
Pennsylvania, September 10, 1831. He
drew his education from the public schools
of his native state and at the age of fifteen
taught school" in winter, working on a farm
in the summer. In June, 1853, while yet a
young man, he removed to Indiana, and
opened up a farm in St. Joseph county.
In 1859 he made his way to Missouri and
settled on a farm in Morgan county, but on
account of the war and the unsettled state
of the country, he moved to Illinois in Feb-
ruary, 1862, and enlisted as a private in
Company F, Eighty-third Illinois Infantry,
the following August. He was promoted
to the rank of second lieutenant in
March, 1863, and served successively as
quartermaster, adjutant, post adjutant,
judge advocate of a military commission,
and depot quartermaster in the engineer
department at Nashville. He was mustered
out of the service June 26, 1865. He had,
during his leisure hours while in the army,
studied law, and in August, 1865, he com-
menced the practice of that profession at
Clarksville, Tennessee. He removed to
Kansas in 1870 and practiced there until
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY.
165
1878, in the meantime establishing and
conducting two newspapers, the " Fredonia
Journal " and " Coffey ville Journal."
Mr. Peffer was elected to the state senate
in 1874 and was a prominent and influential
member of several important committees.
He served as a presidential elector in 1880.
The year following he became editor of the
" Kansas Farmer," which he made a promi-
nent and useful paper. In 1890 Mr. Peffer
was elected to the United States senate as
a member of the People's party and took
his seat March 4, 1891. After six years of
service Senator Peffer was succeeded in
March, 1897, by William A. Harris.
ROBERT MORRIS.— The name of this
financier, statesman and patriot is
closely connected with the early history of
the United States. He was a native of
England, born January 20, 1734, and came
to America with his father when thirteen
years old. Until 1754 he served in the
counting house of Charles Willing, then
formed a partnership with that gentleman's
son, which continued with great success until
1793. In 1776 Mr. Morris was a delegate
to the Continental congress, and, although
once voting against the Declaration of Inde-
pendence, signed that paper on its adop-
tion, and was several times thereafter re-
elected to congress. During the Revolu-
tionary war the services of Robert Morris
in aiding the government during its finan-
cial difficulties were of incalculable value; he
freely pledged his personal credit for sup-
plies for the army, atone time to the amount
of about one and a half million dollars, with-
out which the campaign of 1781 would have
been almost impossible. Mr. Morris was
appointed superintendent of finance in 1781
and served until 1784, continuing to employ
his personal credit to facilitate the needs of
his department. He also served as mem-
ber of the Pennsylvania legislature, and
from 1786 to 1795 was United States sena-
tor, declining meanwhile the position of sec-
retary of the treasury, and suggesting the
name of Alexander Hamilton, who was ap-
pointed to that post. During the latter
part of his life Mr. Morris was engaged ex-
tensively in the China trade, and later be-
came involved in land speculations, which
ruined him, so that the remaining days of
this noble man and patriot were passed
in confinement for debt. His death occurred
at Philadelphia, May 8, 1806.
WILLIAM SHARON, a senator and
capitalist, and mine owner of na-
tional reputation, was born at Smithfield,
Ohio, January 9, 1821. He was reared
upon a farm and in his boyhood given excel-
lent educational advantages and in 1842
entered Athens College. He remained in
that institution about two years, after which
he studied law with Edwin M. Stanton, and
was admitted to the bar at St. Louis and
commenced practice. His health failing,
however, he abandoned his profession and
engaged in mercantile pursuits at Carrollton,
Greene county, Illinois. During the time
of the gold excitement of 1849, Mr. Sharon
went to California, whither so many went,
and engaged in business at Sacramento.
The next year he removed to San Francisco,
where he operated in real estate. Being
largely interested in its silver mines, he re-
moved to Nevada, locating at Virginia City,
and acquired an immense fortune. He be-
came one of the trustees of the Bank of
California, and during the troubles that
arose on the death of William Ralston, the
president of that institution, was largely in-
strumental in bringing its affairs into a satis-
factory shape.
166
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY.
Mr. Sharon was elected to represent the
state of Nevada in the United States senate
in 1875, and remained a member of that
body until 1881. He was always distin-
guished for close application to business.
Senator Sharon died November 13, 1885.
HENRY W. SHAW, an American hu-
morist who became celebrated unde r
the non-de-plume of " Josh Billings," gained
his fame from the witticism of his writing,
and peculiar eccentricity of style and spell-
ing. He was born at Lanesborough, Mas-
sachusetts, in 18 1 8. For twenty-five years
he lived in different parts of the western
states, following various lines of business,
including farming and auctioneering, and in
the latter capacity settled at Poughkeepsie,
New York, in 1858. In 1863 he began
writing humorous sketches for the news-
papers over the signature of "Josh Bill-
ings," and became immediately 'popular
both as a writer and lecturer. He pub-
lished a number of volumes of comic
sketches and edited an " Annual Allminax "
for a number of years, which had a wide cir-
culation. His death occurred October 14,
1885, at Monterey, California.
JOHN M. THURSTON, well known
throughout this country as a senator
and political leader, was born at Mont-
pelier, Vermont, August 21, 1847, of an
old Puritan family which dated back their
ancestry in this country to 1636, and among
whom were soldiers of the Revolution and
of the war of 181 2-1 5.
Young Thurston was brought west by
the family in 1854, they settling at Madison,
Wisconsin, and two years later at Beaver
Dam, where John M. received his schooling
in the public schools and at Wayland Uni-
versity. His father enlisted as a private in
the First Wisconsin Cavalry and died while
in the service, in the spring of 1863.
Young Thurston, thrown on his own
resources while attaining an education, sup-
ported himself by farm work, driving team
and at other manual labor. He studied law
and was admitted to the bar May 21, 1869,
and in October of the same year located in
Omaha, Nebraska. He was elected a
member of the city council in 1872, city
attorney in 1874 and a member of the Ne-
braska legislature in 1874. He was a mem-
ber of the Republican national convention
of 1884 and temporary chairman of that of
1888. Taking quite an interest in the
younger members of his party he was instru-
mental in forming the Republican League
of the United States, of which he was presi-
dent for two years. He was then elected a
member of the United States senate, in
1895, to represent the state of Nebraska.
As an attorney John M. Thurston occu-
pied a very prominent place, and for a num-
ber of years held the position of general
solicitor of the Union Pacific railroad sys-
tem.
JOHN JAMES AUDUBON, a celebrated
American naturalist, was born in Louis-
iana, May 4, 1780, and was the son of an
opulent French naval officer who owned a
plantation in the then French colony. In
his childhood he became deeply interested
in the study of birds and their habits. About
1794 he was sent to Paris, France, where
he was partially educated, and studied de-
signing under the famous painter, Jacques
Louis David. He returned to the Unit-
ed States about 1798, and settled on a
farm his father gave him, on the Perkiomen
creek in eastern Pennsylvania. He mar-
ried Lucy Bakewell in 1808, and, disposing
of his property, removed to Louisville, Ken-
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHr.
1(57
tucky, where he engaged in mercantile pur-
suits. About two years later he began to
make extensive excursions through the pri-
meval forests of the southern and south-
western states, in the exploration of which
he passed many years. He made colored
drawings of all the species of birds that he
found. For several years he made his home
with his wife and children at Henderson, on
the Ohio river. It is said that about this
time he had failed in business and was re-
duced to poverty, but kept the wolf from the
door by giving dancing lessons and in portrait
painting. In 1824, at Philadelphia, he met
Charles Lucien Bonaparte, who encouraged
him to publish a work on ornithology. Two
years later he went to England and com-
menced the publication of his great work,
"The Birds of America." He obtained a
large number of subscribers at one thousand
dollars a copy. This work, embracing five
volumes of letterpress and five volumes of
beautifully colored plates, was pronounced
by Cuvier " the most magnificent monument
that art ever raised to ornithology."
Audubon returned to America in 1829,
and explored the forests, lakes and coast
from Canada to Florida, collecting material
for another work. This was his "Ornitho-
logical Biography; or, An Account of the
Habits of the Birds of the United States,
Etc." He revisited England in 1831, and
returned in 1839, after which he resicied on
the Hudson, near New York City, in which
place he died January 27, 1S51. During
his life he issued a cheaper edition of his
great work, and was, in association with
Dr. Bachman, preparing a work on the
quadrupeds of North America.
the superior British squadron, under Com-
modore Dovvnie, September i 1, 18 14. Com-
modore McDonough was born in Newcastle
county, Delaware, December 23, 1783, and
when -seventeen years old entered the
United States navy as midshipman, serving
in the expedition to Tripoli, under Decatur,
in 1803-4. In !8o7 he was promoted to
lieutenant, and in July, 1813, was made a
commander. The following year, on Lake
Champlain, he gained the celebrated victory
above referred to, for which he was again
promoted; also received a gold medal from
congress, and from the state of Vermont an
estate on Cumberland Head, in view of the
scene of the engagement. His death oc-
curred at sea, November 16, 1825, while he
was returning from the command of the
Mediterranean squadron.
COMMODORE THOMAS McDON-
OUGH gained his principal fame from
he celebrated victory which he gained over
CHARLES FRANCIS HALL, one of
America's most celebrated arctie ex-
plorers, was born in Rochester, New Hamp-
shire, in 1 82 1. He was a blacksmith by
trade, and located in Cincinnati, where later
he became a journalist. For several years
he devoted a great deal of attention to cal-
orics. Becoming interested in the fate of the
explorer, Sir John Franklin, he joined the
expedition fitted out by Henry Grinnell and
sailed in the ship "George Henry," under
Captain Buddington, which left New Lon-
don, Connecticut, in 1S60. He returned in
1862, and two years later published his
" Arctic Researches." He again joined the
expedition fitted out by Mr. Grinnell, and
sailed in the ship, " Monticello," under
Captain Buddington, this time remaining in
the arctic region over four years. On his
return he brought back many evidences of
having found trace of Franklin.
In 1 87 1 the ' ' Polaris " was fitted out by
the United States government, and Captain
108
COMPI£XDIL'M OF BIOGRAPHY
Hall again sailed for the polar regions. He
died in Greenland in October, 1871, and the
"Polaris" was finally abandoned by the
crew, a portion of which, under Captain
Tyson, drifted with the icebergs for one
hundred and ninety-five days, until picked
up by the " Tigress," on the 30th of April,
1873. The other portion of the crew built
boats, and, after a perilous voyage, were
picked up in June, 1873, by a whaling vessel.
OLIVER ELLSWORTH, the third chief
justice of the United States, was born
at Windsor, Connecticut, April 29, 1745.
After graduating from Princeton, he took
up the study of law, and was licensed
to practice in 177 1 . In 1777 he was elected
as a delegate to the Continental congress.
He was judge of the superior court of his
state in 1784, and was chosen as a delegate
\o the constitutional convention in 1787.
He sided with the Federalists, was elected
to the United States senate in 1789, and
was a firm supporter of Washington's policy.
He won great distinction in that body, and
was appointed chief justice of the supreme
court of the United States by Washington
in 1796. The relations between this coun-
try and France having become violently
strained, he was sent to Paris as envoy ex-
traordinary in 1799, and was instrumental
in negotiating the treaty that averted war.
He resigned the following year, and was suc-
ceeded by Chief Justice Marshall. His
death occurred November 26, 1807.
MELLVILLE WESTON FULLER, an
eminent American jurist and chief
justice of the United States supreme court,
was born in Augusta, Maine, in 1833. His
education was looked after in boyhood, and
at the age of sixteen he entered Bowdoin
College, and on graduation entered the law
department of Harvard University. He then
entered the law office of his uncle at Ban-
gor, Maine, and soon after opened an office
for the practice of law at Augusta. He was
an alderman from his ward, city attorney,
and editor of the "Age," a rival newspaper
of the "Journal," which was conducted by-
James G. Blaine. He soon decided to re-
move to Chicago, then springing into notice
as a western metropolis. He at once iden-
tified himself with the interests of the
new city, and by this means acquired an
experience that fitted him for his future
work. He devoted himself assiduously to
his profession, and had the good fortune to
connect himself with the many suits grow-
ing out of the prorogation of the Illinois
legislature in 1863. It was not long before
he became one of the foremost lawyers in
Chicago. He made a three days' speech in
the heresy trial of Dr. Cheney, which added
to his fame. He was appointed chief jus-
tice of the United States by President Cleve-
land in 1888, the youngest man who ever
held that exalted position. His income from
his practice had for many years reached
thirty thousand dollars annually.
CHESTER ALLEN ARTHUR, twenty-
first president of the United States, was
born in Franklin county, Vermont, Octo-
ber 5, 1830. He was educated at Union
College, Schenectady, New York, from
which he graduated with honor, and en-
gaged in teaching school. After two years
he entered the law office of Judge E. D.
Culver, of New York, as a student. He was
admitted to the bar, and formed a partner-
ship with an old room-mate, Henry D. Gar-
diner, with the intention of practicing law
in the west, but after a few months' search
for a location, they returned to New York
and opened an office, and at once entered
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPI/r.
1G9
upon a profitable practice. He was shortly
afterwards married to a daughter of Lieu-
tenant Herndon, of the United States navy.
Mrs. Arthur died shortly before his nomina-
tion for the vice-presidency. In 1856 a
colored woman in New York was ejected
from a street car and retained Mr. Arthur
in a suit against the company, and obtained
a verdict of five hundred dollars. It result-
ed in a general order by all superintendents
of street railways in the city to admit col-
ored people to the cars.
Mr. Arthur was a delegate to the first
Republican national convention, and was
appointed judge-advocate for the Second
Brigade of New York, and then chief engi-
neer of Governor Morgan's staff. At the
close of his term he resumed the practice of
iaw in New York. In 1872 he was made
collector of the port of New York, which
position he held four years. At the Chi-
cago convention in 1880 Mr. Arthur was
nominated for the vice-presidency with
Garfield, and after an exciting campaign
was elected. Four months after the inau-
guration President Garfield was assassinated,
and Mr. Arthur was called to take the reins
of government. His administration of
affairs was generally satisfactory. At its
close he resumed the practice of law in New
York. His death occurred November 18,
1886.
ISAAC HULL was one of the most con-
spicuous and prominent naval officers in
the early history of America. He was born
at Derby, Connecticut, March 9, 1775, be-
ing the son of a Revolutionary officer. Isaac
Hull early in life became a mariner, and
when nineteen years of age became master
of a merchant ship in the London trade.
In 1798 he became a lieutenant in the United
States navy, and three years later was made
10
first lieutenant of the frigate "Constitution."
He distinguished himself by skill and valor
against the French on the coast of Hayti, and
served with distinction in the Barbary expe-
ditions. July 12, 1812, he sailed from
Annapolis, in command of the "Constitu-
tion," and for three days was pursued by a
British squadron of five ships, from which
he escaped by bold and ingenious seaman-
ship. In August of the same year he cap-
tured the frigate " Guerriere," one of his
late pursuers and for this, the first naval
advantage of that war, he received a gold
medal from congress. Isaac Hull was later
made naval commissioner and had command
of various navy yards. His death occurred
February 13, 1843, at Philadelphia.
M'
ARCUS ALONZO HANNA, famous
as a prominent business man, political
manager and senator, was born in New Lis-
bon, Columbiana county, Ohio, September
24, 1837. He removed with his father's
family to Cleveland, in the same state, in
1852, and in the latter city, and in the
Western Reserve College, at Hudson, Ohio,
received his education. He became an em-
ploye of the wholesale grocery house of
Hanna, Garrettson & Co., his father being
the senior member of the firm. The latter
died in 1862, and Marcus represented his
interest until 1867, when the business was
closed up.
Our subject then became a member of
the firm of Rhodes & Co., engaged in the
iron and coal business, but at the expira-
tion of ten years this firm was changed to
that of M. A. Hanna & Co. Mr. Hanna
was long identified with the lake carrying
business, being interested in vessels on the
lakes and in the construction of them. As
a director of the Globe Ship Manufacturing
Company, of Cleveland, president of the
170
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPIIV.
Union National Bank, of Cleveland, president
of the Cleveland City Railway Company,
and president of the Chapin Mining Com-
pany, of Lake Superior, he became promi-
nently identified with the business world.
He was one of the government directors of
the Union Pacific Railroad, being appointed
to that position in 1885 by President Cleve-
land.
Mr. Hanna was a delegate to the na-
tional Republican convention of 1884, which
was his first appearance in the political
world. He was a delegate to the con-
ventions of 1888 and 1896, and was elect-
ed chairman of the Republican national
committee the latter year, and practically
managed the campaign of William McKin-
ley for the presidency. In 1897 Mr. Hanna
was appointed senator by Governor Bush-
nell, of Ohio, to fill the vacancy caused by
the resignation of John Sherman.
GEORGE PEABODY was one of the
best known and esteemed of all philan-
thropists, whose munificent gifts to Ameri-
can institutions have proven of so much
benefit to the cause of humanity. He was
born February 18, 1795, at South Danvers,
Massachusetts, which is now called Pea-
body in honor of him. He received but a
meager education, and during his early life
he was a mercantile clerk at Thetford, Ver-
mont, and Newburyport, Massachusetts. In
1 8 14 he became a partner with Elisha
Riggs, at Georgetown, District of Columbia,
and in 1 8 1 5 they moved to Baltimore, Mary-
land. The business grew to great propor-
tions, and they opened branch houses at
New York and Philadelphia. Mr. Peabody
made several voyages to Europe of com-
mercial importance, and in 1829 became the
head of the firm, which was then called
Peabody, Riggs & Co., and in 1838 he re-
moved to London, England. He retired
from the firm, and established the cele-
brated banking house, in which he accumu-
lated a large fortune. He aided Mr. Grin-
nell in fitting out Dr. Kane's Arctic expedi-
tion, in 1852, and founded in the same yeaf
the Peabody Institute, in his native town,
which he afterwards endowed with two hun-
dred thousand dollars. Mr. Peabody visited
the United States in 1857, and gave three
hundred thousand dollars for the establish-
ment at Baltimore of an institute of science,
literature and fine arts. In 1862 he gave
two million five hundred thousand dollars
for the erecting of lodging houses for the
poor in London, and on another visit to the
United States he gave one hundred and fifty
thousand dollars to establish at Harvard a
museum and professorship of American
archaeology and ethnology, an equal sum for
the endowment of a department of physical
science at Yale, and gave the "Southern
Educational Fund " two million one hundred
thousand dollars, besides devoting two hun-
dred thousand dollars to various objects of
public utility. Mr. Peabody made a final
visit to the United States in 1869, and on
this occasion he raised the endowment of
the Baltimore Institute one million dollars,
created the Peabody Museum, at Salem,
Massachusetts, with a fund of one hundred
and fifty thousand dollars, gave sixty thou-
sand dollars to Washington College, Vir-
ginia; fifty thousand dollars for a "Peabody
Museum," at North Danvers, thirty thousand
dollars to Phillips Academy, Andover; twen-
ty-five thousand dollars to Kenyon College,
Ohio, and twenty thousand dollars to the
Maryland Historical Society. Mr. Peabody
also endowed an art school at Rome, in
1S68. He died in London, November 4,
1869, less then a month after he had re-
turned from the United States, and his
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPIIV.
171
remains were brought to the United States
and interred in his native town. He made
several other bequests in his will, and left
his family about five million dollars.
AC
ATTHEW S. QUAY, a celebrated
blic man and senator, was born at
Dillsburgh, York county, Pennsylvania,
September 30, 1S33, of an old Scotch-Irish
family, some of whom had settled in the
Keystone state in 1715. Matthew received
a good education, graduating from the Jef-
ferson College at Canonsburg, Pennsylvania,
at the age of seventeen. He then traveled,
taught school, lectured, and studied law
under Judge Sterrett. He was admitted to
the bar in 1854, was appointed a prothon-
otary in 1S55 and elected to the same
office in 1856 and 1859. Later he was
made lieutenant of the Pennsylvania Re
serves, lieutenant-colonel and assistant com-
missary-general of the state, private secre-
tary of the famous war governor of Pennsyl-
vania, Andrew G. Curtin, colonel of the
One Hundred and Thirty-fourth Pennsylva-
nia Infantry (nine months men), military
state agent and held other offices at different
times.
Mr. Quay was a member of the house of
representatives of the state of Pennsylvania
from 1865 to 1S68. He filled the office of
secretary of the commonwealth from 1872
to 1878, and the position of delegate-at-
large to the Republican national conventions
of 1S72, 1876, 1880 and 1888. Hewasthe
editor of the "Beaver Radical" and the
" Philadelphia Record " for a time, and held
many offices in the state conventions and on
their committees. He was elected secre-
tary of the commonwealth of Pennsylvania,
1S69, and served three years, and in 18S5
was chosen state treasurer. In 1886 his
great abilities pointed him out as the
natural candidate for United States senator,
and he was accordingly elected to that posi-
tion and re-elected thereto in 1892. He
was always noted for a genius for organiza-
tion, and as a political leader had but few
peers. Cool, serene, far-seeing, resourceful,
holding his impulses and forces in hand, he
never quailed from any policy he adopted,
and carried to success most, if not all, of
the political campaigns in which he took
part.
JAMES K. JONES, a noted senator and
political leader, attained national fame
while chairman of the national executive
committee of the Democratic party in the
presidential campaign of 1S96. He was a
native of Marshall county, Mississippi, and
was born September 29, 1839. His father,
a well-to-do planter, settled in Dallas count)',
Arkansas, in 1848, and there the subject of
this sketch received a careful education.
During the Civil war he served as a private
soldier in the Confederate army. From
1866 to 1873 he passed a quiet life as a
planter, but in the latter year was admitted
to the bar and began the practice of law.
About the same time he was elected to the
Arkansas senate and re-elected in 1874. In
1877 he was made president of the senate
and the following year was unsuccessful in
obtaining a nomination as member of con-
gress. In 18S0 he was elected representa-
tive and his ability at once placed him in a
foremost position. He was re-elected to
congress in 1882 and in 1884, and served as
an influential member on the committee of
ways and means. March 4, 1S85, Mr. Jones
took his seat in the United States senate to
succeed James D. Walker, and was after-
ward re-elected to the same office. In this
branch of the national legislature his capa-
bilities had a wider scope, and he was rec-
172
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHT.
ognized as one of the ablest leaders of his
party.
On the nomination of William J. Bryan
as its candidate for the presidency by the
national convention of the Democratic
party, held in Chicago in 1896, Mr. Jones
was made chairman of the national com-
mittee.
THEODORE THOMAS, one of the most
celebrated musical directors America
has known, was born in the kingdom of Han-
over in 1 835, and received his musical educa-
tion from his father. He was avery apt scholar
and played the violin at public concerts at
the age of six years. He came with his
parents to America in 1845, and joined the
orchestra of the Italian Opera in New York
City. He played the first violin in the
orchestra which accompanied Jenny Lind
in her first American concert. In 1861 Mr.
Thomas established the orchestra that be-
came famous under his management, and
gave his first symphony concerts in New
York in 1864. He began his first "summer
night concerts" in the same city in 1868,
and in 1869 he started on his first tour of
the principal cities in the United States,
which he made every year for many years.
He was director of the College of Music in
Cincinnati, Ohio, but resigned in 1880, after
having held the position for three years.
Later he organized one of the greatest
and most successful orchestras ever brought
together in the city of Chicago, and was
very prominent in musical affairs during the
World's Columbian Exposition, thereby add-
ing greatly to his fame.
CYRUS HALL McCORMICK, the fa-
mous inventor and manufacturer, was
born at Walnut Grove, Virginia, February
15,1 809. When he was seven years old his
father invented a reaping machine. It was
a rude contrivance and not successful. In
1 83 1 Cyrus made his invention of a reaping
machine, and had it patented three years
later. By successive improvements he was
able to keep his machines at the head of
its class during his life. In 1 845 he removed
to Cincinnati, Ohio, and two years later
located in Chicago, where he amassed a
great fortune in manufacturing reapers and
harvesting machinery. In 1859 he estab-
lished the Theological Seminary of the
Northwest at Chicago, an institution for pre-
paring young men for the ministry in the
Presbyterian church, and he afterward en-
dowed a chair in the Washington and Lee
College at Lexington, Virginia. He mani-
fested great interest in educational and re-
ligious matters, and by his great wealth he
was able to extend aid and encouragement
to many charitable causes. His death oc-
curred May 13, 1884.
DAVID ROSS LOCKE.— Under the
pen name of Petroleum V. Nasby, this
well-known humorist and writer made for
himself a household reputation, and estab-
lished a school that has many imitators.
The subject of this article was born at
Vestal, Broome county, New York, Sep-
tember 30, 1833. After receiving his edu-
cation in the county of his birth he en-
tered the office of the ' ' Democrat, " at Cort-
land, New York, where he learned the
printer's trade. He was successively editor
and publisher of the ' 'Plymouth Advertiser, "
the "Mansfield Herald," the " Bucyrus
Journal," and the "Findlay Jeffersonian."
Later he became editor of the "Toledo
Blade." In i860 he commenced his
" Nasby" articles, several series of which
have been given the world in book form.
Under a mask of misspelling, and in a QuaiD*;
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPH1'.
173
and humorous style, a keen political satire
is couched — a most effective weapon.
Mr. Locke was the author of a num-
ber of serious political pamphlets, and
later on a more pretentious work, " The
Morals of Abou Ben Adhem." As a news-
paper writer he gained many laurels and his
works are widely read. Abraham Lincoln
is said to have been a warm admirer of P.
V. Nasby, of " Confedrit X Roads" fame.
Mr. Locke died at Toledo, Ohio, February
15, 1888.
RUSSELL A. ALGER, noted as a sol-
dier, governor and secretary of war,
was born in Medina county, Ohio, February
27, 1836, and was the son of Russell and
Caroline (Moulton) Alger. At the age of
twelve years he was left an orphan and pen-
niless. For about a year he worked for
his board and clothing, and attended school
part of the time. In 1850 he found a place
which paid small wages, and out of his
scanty earnings helped his brother and sister.
While there working on a farm he found
time to attend the Richfield Academy, and
by hard work between times managed to get
a fair education for that time. The last
two years of his attendance at this institu-
tion of learning he taught school during the
winter months. In 1857 he commenced the
study of law, and was admitted to the bar
in 1S59. For a while he found employ-
ment in Cleveland, Ohio, but impaired
health induced him to remove to Grand
Rapids, where he engaged in the lumber
business. He was thus engaged when the
Civil war broke out, and, his business suf-
fering and his savings swept away, he en-
listed as a private in the Second Michigan
Cavalry. He was promoted to be captain
the following month, and major for gallant
conduct at Boonesville, Mississippi, July 1,
1862. October 16, 1862, he was made
lieutenant-colonel of the Sixth Michigan
Cavalry, and in February, 1863, colonel of
the Fifth Michigan Cavalry. He rendered
excellent service in the Gettysburg cam-
paign. He was wounded at Boonesboro,
Maryland, and on returning to his command
took part with Sherman in the campaign in
the Shenandoah Valley. For services ren-
dered, that famous soldier recommended
him for promotion, and he was brevetted
major-general of volunteers. In 1866 Gen-
eral Alger took up his residence at Detroit,
and prospered exceedingly in his business,
which was that of lumbering, and grew
quite wealthy. In 1884 he was a delegate
to the Republican national convention, and
the same year was elected governor of
Michigan. He declined a nomination for
re-election to the latter office, in 18S7, and
was the following year a candidate for the
nomination for president. In 1889 he was
elected commander-in-chief of the Grand
Army of the Republic, and at different
times occupied many offices in other or-
ganizations.
In March, 1897, President McKinley
appointed General Alger secretary of war.
CYRUS WEST FIELD, the father of
submarine telegraphy, was the son of
the Rev. David D. Field, D.D., a Congre-
gational minister, and was born at Stock-
bridge, Massachusetts, November 30, 1819.
He was educated in his native town, and at
the age of fifteen years became a clerk in a
store in New York City. Being gifted with
excellent business ability Mr. Field pros-
pered and became the head of a large mer-
cantile house. In 1853 he spent about six
months in travel in South America. On his
return he became interested in ocean teleg-
raphy. Being solicited to aid in the con-
171
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY.
struction of a land telegraph across New
Foundland to receive the news from a line
of fast steamers it was proposed to run from
from Ireland to St. Johns, the idea struck
him to carry the line across the broad At-
lantic. In 1350 Mr. Field obtained a con-
cession from the legislature of Newfound-
land, giving him the sole right for fifty years
to land submarine cables on the shores of
that island. In company with Peter Cooper,
Moses Taylor, Marshall O. Roberts and
Chandler White, he organized a company
under the name of the New York, New-
foundland & London Telegraph Company.
In two years the line from New York across
Newfoundland was built. The first cable
connecting Cape Breton Island with New-
foundland having been lost in a storm while
being laid in 1855, another was put down in
1856. In the latter year Mr. Field went to
London and organized the Atlantic Tele-
graph Company, furnishing one-fourth of the
capital himself. Both governments loaned
ships to carry out the enterprise. Mr. Field
accompanied the expeditions- of 1857 and
two in 1858. The first and second cables
were failures, and the third worked but a
short time and then ceased. The people of
both continents became incredulous of the
feasibility of laying a successful cable under
so wide an expanse of sea, and the war
breaking out shortly after, nothing was done
until 1865-66. Mr. Field, in the former
year, again made the attempt, and the Great
Eastern laid some one thousand two hun-
dred miles when the cable parted and was
lost. The following year the same vessel
succeeded in laying the entire cable, and
picked up the one lost the year before, and
both were carried to America's shore. After
thirteen years of care and toil Mr. Field had
his reward. He was the recipient of many
medals and honors from both home and
abroad. He gave his attention after this,
to establishing telegraphic communication
throughout the world and many other large
enterprises, notably the construction of ele-
vated railroads in New York. Mr. Field
died July 1 1, 1S92.
G ROVER CLEVELAND, the twenty-
second president of the United States,
was born in Caldwell, Essex county, New
Jersey, March 18, 1837, and was the son
of Rev. Richard and Annie (Neale) Cleve-
land. The father, of distinguished New
England ancestry, was a Presbyterian min-
ister in charge of the church at Caldwell at
the time.
When Grover was about three years of
age the family removed to Fayetteville,
Onondaga county, New York, where he
attended the district school, and was in the
academy for a short time. His father be-
lieving that boys should early learn to labor,
Grover entered a village store and worked
for the sum of fifty dollars for the first year.
While he was thus engaged the family re-
moved to Clinton, New York, and there
young Cleveland took up Hs studies at the
academy. The death of his father dashed
all his hopes of a collegiate education, the
family being left in straightened circum-
stances, and Grover started out to battle
for himself. After acting for a year (1853-
54) as assistant teacher and bookkeeper in
the Institution for the Blind at New York
City, he went to Buffalo. A short time
after he entered the law office of Rogers,
Bowen & Rogers, of that city, and after a
hard struggle with adverse circumstances,
was admitted to the bar in 1859. He be-
came confidential and managing clerk for
the firm under whom he had studied, and
remained with them until 1863. In the lat-
ter year he was appointed district attorney
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY.
175
of Erie county. It was during his incum-
bency of this office that, on being nominated
by the Democrats for supervisor, he came
within thirteen votes of election, although
the district was usually Republican by two
hundred and fifty majority. In i866Grover
Cleveland formed a partnership with Isaac
V. Vanderpoel. The most of the work here
fell upon the shoulders of our subject, and
he soon won a good standing at the bar of
the state. In 1869 Mr. Cleveland associated
himself in business with A. P. Laning and
Oscar Folsom, and under the firm name of
Laning, Cleveland & Folsom soon built up a
fair practice. In the fall of 1870 Mr. Cleve-
land was elected sheriff of Erie county, an
office which he filled for four years, after
which he resumed his profession, with L. K.
Bass and Wilson S. Bissell as partners.
This firm was strong and popular and
shortly was in possession of a lucrative
practice. Mr. Bass retired from the firm
in 1879, and George J. Secard was admit-
ted a member in 1SS1. In the latter year
Mr. Cleveland was elected mayor of Buffalo,
and in 1882 he was chosen governor by
the enormous majority of one hundred and
ninety-two thousand votes. July 11, 1884,
he was nominated for the presidency by the
Democratic national convention, and in
November following was elected.
Mr. Cleveland, after serving one term as
president of the United States, in 1888 was
nominated by his party to succeed himself,
but he failed of the election, being beaten
by Benjamin Harrison. In 1892, however,
being nominated again in opposition to the
then incumbent of the presidency, Mr. Har-
rison, Grover Cleveland was elected pres-
ident for the second time and served for the
usual term of four years. In 1897 Mr.
Cleveland retired from the chair of the first
magistrate of the nation, and in New York
City resumed the practice of law, in which
city he had established himself in 1889.
June 2, 1886, Grover Cleveland was
united in marriage with Miss Frances Fol-
som, the daughter of his former partner.
ALEXANDER WINCHELL, for many
years one of the greatest of American
scientists, and one of the most noted and
prolific writers on scientific subjects, was
born in Duchess county, New York, Decem-
ber 31, 1824. He received a thorough col-
legiate education, and graduated at the
Wesleyan University, Middletown, Connect-
icut, in 1847. His mind took a scientific-
turn, which manifested itself while he was
yet a boy, and in 1848 he became teacher
of natural sciences at the Armenian Semi-
nary, in his native state, a position which
he filled for three years. In 185 1-3 he oc-
cupied the same position in the Mesopo-
tamia Female Seminary, in Alabama, after
which he was president of the Masonic Fe-
male Seminary, in Alabama. In 1853 he
became connected with the University of
Michigan, at Ann Arbor, at which institu-
tion he performed the most important work
of his life, and gained a wide reputation as
a scientist. He held many important posi-
tions, among which were the following:
Professor of physics and civil engineering at
the University of Michigan, also of geology,
zoology and botany, and later professor of
geology and palaeontology at the same insti-
tution. He also, for a time, was president
of the Michigan Teachers' Association, and
state geologist of Michigan. Professor
Winchell was a very prolific writer on scien-
tific subjects, and published many standard
works, his most important and widely known
being those devoted to geology. He also
contributed a large number of articles to
scientific and popular journals.
176
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRArJIT.
ANDREW HULL FOOTE, of the
United States navy, was a native of
New England, born at New Haven, Con-
necticut, May 4, 1S08. He entered the
navy, as a midshipman, December 4, 1822.
He slowly rose in his chosen profession, at-
taining the rank of lieutenant in 1830, com-
mander in 1852 and captain in 1861.
Among the distinguished men in the break-
ing out of the Civil war, but few stood higher
in the estimation of his brother officers than
Foote, and when, in the fall of 1861, he
was appointed to the command of the flotilla
then building on the Mississippi, the act
gave great satisfaction to the service.
Although embarrassed by want of navy
yards and supplies, Foote threw himself into
his new work with unusual energy. He
overcame all obstacles and in the new, and,
until that time, untried experiment, of creat-
ing and maintaining a navy on a river,
achieved a success beyond the expectations
of the country. Great incredulity existed as
to the possibility of carrying on hostilities
on a river where batteries from the shore
might bar the passage. But in spite of all,
Foote soon had a navy on the great river,
and by the heroic qualities of the crews en-
trusted to him, demonstrated the utility of
this new departure in naval architecture.
All being prepared, February 6, 1862, Foote
took Fort Henry after a hotly-contested
action. On the 14th of the same month,
for an hour and a half engaged the batteries
■of Fort Donelson, with four ironclads and
two wooden gunboats, thereby dishearten-
ing the garrison and assisting in its capture.
April 7th of the same year, after several
-hotly-contested actions, Commodore Foote
received the surrender of Island No. 10, one
of the great strongholds of the Confederacy
on the Mississippi river. Foote having been
wounded at Fort Donelson, and. by neglect
it having become so serious as to endanger
his life, he was forced to resign his command
and return home. June 16, 1862, he re-
ceived the thanks of congress and was pro-
moted to the rank of rear admiral. He was
appointed chief of the bureau of equipment
and recruiting. June 4, 1863, he was
ordered to the fleet off Charleston, to super-
cede Rear Admiral Dupont, but on his way
to that destination was taken sick at New
York, and died June 26, 1863.
NELSON A. MILES, the well-known sol-
dier, was born at Westminster, Massa-
chusetts, August 8, 1 839. His ancestors set-
tled in that state in 1643 among the early
pioneers, and their descendants were, many
of them, to be found among those battling
against Great Britain during Revolutionary
times and during the war of 1812. Nelson
was reared on a farm, received an academic
education, and in early manhood engaged in
mercantile pursuits in Boston. Early in
1 86 1 he raised a company and offered his
services to the government, and although
commissioned as captain, on account of his
youth went out as first lieutenant in the
Twenty-second Massachusetts Infantry. In
1 862 he was commissioned lieutenant-colonel
and colonel of the Sixty-first New York In-
fantry. At the request of Generals Grant
and Meade he was made a brigadier by
President Lincoln. He participated in all
but one of the battles of the Army of the
Potomac until the close of the war. During
the latter part of the time he commanded
the first division of the Second Corps.
General Miles was wounded at the battles
of Fair Oaks, Fredericksburg and Chan-
cellorsville, and received four brevets for
distinguished service. During the recon-
struction period he commanded in North
Carolina, and on the reorganization of the
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHT.
177
regular army he was made colonel of in-
fantry. In 1880 he was promoted to the
rank of brigadier-general, and in 1890 to
that of major-general. He successfully con-
ducted several campaigns among the In-
dians, and his name is known among the
tribes as a friend when they are peacefully
inclined. He many times averted war
with the red men by judicious and humane
settlement of difficulties without the military
power. In 1892 General Miles was given
command of the proceedings in dedicating
the World's Fair at Chicago, and in the
summer of 1894, during the great railroad
strike at the same city, General Miles, then
in command of the department, had the
disposal of the troops sent to protect the
United States mails. On the retirement of
General J. M. Schofield, in 1895, General
Miles became the ranking major-general of
the United States army and the head of its
forces.
JUNIUS BRUTUS BOOTH, the great
vj actor, though born in London (1796), is
more intimately connected with the Amer-
ican than wjth the English stage, and his
popularity in America was almost un-
bounded, while in England he was not a
prime favorite. He presented ' ' Richard III. "
in Richmond on his first appearance on the
American stage in 1821. This was his
greatest role, and in it he has never had an
equal. In October of the same year he
appeared in New York. After a long and
successful career he gave his final perform-
ance at New Orleans in 1852. He con-
tracted a severe cold, and for lack of proper
medical attention, if resulted in his death
on November 30th of that year. He was,
without question, one of the greatest tra-
gedians that ever lived. In addition to his
professional art and genius, he was skilled
in languages, drawing, painting and sculp-
ture. In his private life he was reserved,
and even eccentric. Strange stories are
related of his peculiarities, and on his farm
near Baltimore he forbade the use of animal
food, the taking of animal life, and even the
felling of trees, and brought his butter and
eggs to the Baltimore markets in person.
Junius Brutus Booth, known as the elder
Booth, gave to the world three sons of note:
Junius Brutus Booth, Jr., the husband of
Agnes Booth, the actress; John Wilkes
Booth, the author of the greatest tragedy
in the life of our nation; Edwin Booth, in
his day the greatest actor of America, if not.
of the world.
TAMES MONTGOMERY BAILEY, fa-
<J mous as the "Danbury News Man,"
was one of the best known American humor-
ists, and was born September 25, 1841, at
Albany, N. Y. He adopted journalism as a
profession and started in his chosen work on
the "Danbury Times," which paper he pur-
chased on his return from the war. Mr.
Bailey also purchased the "Jeffersonian,"
another paper of Danbury, and consolidated
them, forming the "Danbury News," which
paper soon acquired a celebrity throughout,
the United States, from an incessant flow of
rich, healthy, and original humor, which the
pen of the editor imparted to its columns,
and he succeeded in raising the circulation
of the paper from a few hundred copies a.
week to over forty thousand. The facilities
of a country printing office were not so com-
plete in those days as they are now, but Mr.
Bailey was resourceful, and he put on re-
lays'of help and ran his presses night and
day, and always prepared his matter a week
ahead of time. The "Danbury News Man"
was a new figure in literature, as his humor
was so different from that of the newspaper
178
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHV
wits — who had preceded him, and he maybe
called the pioneer of that school now so
familiar. Mr. Bailey published in book
form "Life in Danbury" and "The Danbury
News Man's Almanac. " One of his most
admirable traits was philanthrophy, as he
gave with unstinted generosity to all comers,
and died comparatively poor, notwithstand-
ing his ownership of a very profitable busi-
ness which netted him an income of $40,000
a year. He died March 4, 1894.
MATTHEW HALE CARPENTER, a
famous lawyer, orator and senator,
was born in Moretown, Vermont, December
22, 1824. After receiving a common-school
education he entered the United States
Military Academy at West Point, but only
remained two years. On returning to his
home he commenced the study of law with
Paul Dillingham, afterwards governor of
Vermont, and whose daughter he married.
In 1847 he was admitted to practice at the
bar in Vermont, but he went to Boston and
for atimestudied withRufusChoate. In 1848
he moved wes-t, settling at Beloit, Wisconsin,
and commencing the practice of his profes-
sion soon obtained a wide reputation for
ability. In 1856 Mr. Carpenter removed to
Milwaukee, where he found a wider field for
his now increasing powers. During the
Civil war, although a strong Democrat, he
was loyal to the government and aided the
Union cause to his utmost. In 1868 he
was counsel for the government in a test
case to settle the legality of the reconstruc-
tion act before the United States supreme
court, and won his case against Jeremiah S.
Black. This gave him the election for sen-
ator from Wisconsin in 1869, and he served
until 1875, during part of which time he was
president pro tempore of the senate. Failing
of a re-election Mr. Carpenter resumed the
practice of law, and when William W.
Belknap, late secretary of war, was im-
peached, entered the case for General
Belknap, and secured an acquittal. During
the sitting of the electoral commission of
1877, Mr. Carpenter appeared for Samuel
J. Tilden, although the Republican man-
agers had intended to have him represent
R. B. Hayes. Mr. Carpenter was elected'
to the United States senate again in 1879,
and remained a member of that body until
the day of his death, which occurred at
Washington, District of Columbia, Feb-
ruary 24, 18S1.
Senator Carpenter's real name was De-
catur Merritt Hammond Carpenter but about
1852 he changed it to the one by which he
was universally known.
THOMAS E. WATSON, lawyer and
congressman, the well-known Geor-
gian, whose name appears at the head of
this sketch, made himself a place in the his-
tory of our country by his ability, energy
and fervid oratory. He was born in Col-
umbia (now McDurfte) county, Georgia,
September 5, 1856. He had a common-
school education, and in 1872 entered Mer-
cer University, at Macon, Georgia, as fresh-
man, but for want of money left the college
at the end of his sophomore year. He
taught school, studying law at the same
time, until 1875, when he was admitted to
the bar. He opened an office and com-
menced practice in Thomson, Georgia, in
November, 1876. He carried on a success-
ful business, and bought land and farmed on
an extensive scale.
Mr. Watson was a delegate to the Demo-
cratic state convention of 1S80, and was a
member of the house of representatives of
the legislature of his native state in 1S82.
In 1888 he was an elector-at-large on the
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY.
179
Cleveland ticket, and in 1890 was elected
to represent his district in the fifty-second
congress. This latter election is said to have
been due entirely to Mr. Watson's "dash-
ing display of ability, eloquence and popular
power." In his later years he championed
the alliance principles and policies until he
became a leader in the movement. In the
heated campaign of 1896, Mr. Watson was
nominated as the candidate for vice-presi-
dent on the Bryan ticket by that part of the
People's party that would not endorse the
nominee for the same position made by the
Democratic party.
FREDERICK A. P. BARNARD, mathe-
matician, physicist and educator, was
born in Sheffield, Massachusetts, May 5, 1809.
He graduated from Yale College in 1 828, and
in 1830 became a tutor in the same. From
1837 to 1848 he was professor of mathe-
matics and natural philosophy in the Uni-
versity of Alabama, and- from 1S48 to 1850,
professor of chemistry and natural history
in the same educational institution. In
1854 he became connected with the Univer-
sity of Mississippi, of which he became
president in 1856, and chancellor in 1858.
In 1854 he took orders in the Protestant
Episcopal church. In 1861 Professor Barnard
resigned his chancellorship and chair in the
university, and in 1863 and 1864 was con-
nected with the United States coast survey
in charge of chart printing and lithography.
In May, 1864, he was elected president of
Columbia College, New York City, which
he served for a number of years.
Professor Barnard received + he honorary
degree of LL. D. from Jefferson College,
Mississippi, in 1855, and from Yale College
in 1859; also the degree of S. T. D. from
the University of Mississippi in 1861, and
that of L. H. D. from the regents of the
University of the State of New York in 1872.
In 1S60 he was a member of the eclipse
party sent by the United States coast sur-
vey to Labrador, and during his absence
was elected president of the American Asso-
ciation for the Advancement of Science. In
the act of congress establishing the National
Academy of Sciences in 1863, he was named
as one of the original corporators. In 1867
he was one of the United States commis-
sioners to the Paris Exposition. He was
a member of the American Philosophical
Society, associate member of the Amer-
ican Academy of Arts and Sciences, and
many other philosophical and scientific
societies at home and abroad. Dr. Barnard
was thoroughly identified with the progress
of the age in those branches. His published
works relate wholly to scientific or educa-
tional subjects, chief among which are the
following: Report on Collegiate Education;
Art Culture; History of the American Coast
Survey; University Education; Undulatory
Theory of Light; Machinery and Processes
of the Industrial Arts, and Apparatus of the
Exact Sciences, Metric System of Weights
and Measures, etc.
EDWIN McMASTERS STANTON, the
secretary of war during the great Civil
war, was recognized as one of America's
foremost public men. He was born Decem-
ber 19, 1814, at Steubenville, Ohio, where
he received his education and studied law.
He was admitted to the bar in 1836, and
was reporter of the supreme court of Ohio
from 1842 until 1845. He removed to
Washington in 1S56 to attend to his prac-
tice before the United States supreme
court, and in 1S5S he went to California as
counsel for the government in certain land
cases, which he carried to a successful
conclusion. Mr. Stanton was appointed
180
Z^VMPENDIUM OF BIOGJRAFXJ,
attorney-general of the United States in
December, 1860, by President Buchanan.
On March 4, 1S61, Mr. Stanton went with
the outgoing administration and returned to
the practice of his profession. He was
appointed secretary of war by President
Lincoln January 20, 1862, to succeed Simon
Cameron. After the assassination of Presi-
dent Lincoln and the accession of Johnson
to the presidency, Mr. Stanton was still in
the same office. He held it for three years,
and by his strict adherence to the Repub-
lican party, he antagonized President John-
son, who endeavored to remove him. On
August 5, 1867, the president requested him
to resign, and appointed General Grant to
succeed him, but when congress convened
in December the senate refused to concur in
the suspension. Mr. Stanton returned to
his post until the president again removed
him from office, but was again foiled by
congress. Soon after, however, he retired
voluntarily from office and took up the
practice of law, in which he engaged until
his death, on December 24, 1869.
ALEXANDER CAMPBELL, the eminent
theologian and founder of the church
known as Disciples of Christ, was born in
the country of Antrim, Ireland, in June,
1788, and was the son of Rev. Thomas
Campbell, a Scoth-Irish "Seceder. " After
studying at the University of Glasgow, he,
in company with his father, came to America
in 1808, and both began labor in western
Pennsylvania to restore Christianity to
apostolic simplicity. They organized a
church at Brush Run, Washington count}',
Pennsylvania, in 181 1, which, however, the
year following, adopted Baptist views, and
in 181 3, with other congregations joined a
Baptist association. Some of the under-
lying principles and many practices of the
Campbells and their disciples were repug-
nant to the Baptist church and considerable
friction was the result, and 1827 saw the
separation of that church from the Church
of Christ, as it is sometimes called. The
latter, then reorganized themselves anew.
They reject all creeds, professing to receive
the Bible as their only guide. In most mat-
ters of faith they are essentially in accord with
the other Evangelical Christian churches,
especially in regard to the person and work
of Christ, the resurrection and judgment.
They celebrate the Lord's Supper weekly,
hold that repentance and faith should precede
baptism, attaching much importance to the
latter ordinance. On all other points they
encourage individual liberty of thought. In
1841, Alexander Campbell founded Bethany
College, West Virginia, of which he was
president for many years, and died March 4,
1866.
The denomination which they founded
is quite a large and important church body
in the United States. They support quite
a number of institutions of learning, among
which are: Bethany College, West Virginia;
Hiram College, Hiram, Ohio; Northwestern
Christian University, Indianapolis, Indiana;
Eureka College, Illinois; Kentucky Univer-
sity, Lexington, Kentucky; Oskaloosa
College, Iowa; and a number of seminaries
and schools. They also support several
monthly and quarterly religious periodicals
and many papers, both in the United States
and Great Britain and her dependencies.
WILLIAM L.WILSON, the noted West
Virginian, who was postmaster-gener-
al under President Cleveland's second ad-
ministration, won distinction as the father
of the famous " Wilson bill," which became
a law under the same administration. Mr.
Wiison was born May 3, 1843, in Jeffer-
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY.
181
son county, West Virginia, and received
a good education at the Charlestown
Academy, where he prepared himself for
college. He attended the Columbian Col-
lege in the District of Columbia, from
which he graduated in i860, and then
attended the University of Virginia. Mr.
Wilson served in the Confederate army dur-
ing the war, after which he was a professor
in Columbian College. Later he entered
into the practice of law at Charlestown.
He attended the Democratic convention
held at Cincinnati in 1880, as a delegate,
and later was chosen as one of the electors
for the state-at-large on the Hancock
ticket. In the Democratic convention at
Chicago in 1892, Mr. Wilson was its per-
manent president. He was elected pres-
ident of the West Virginia University in
1882, entering upon the duties of his office
on September 6, but having received the
nomination for the forty-seventh congress
on the Democratic ticket, he resigned the
presidency of the university in June, 1883,
to take his seat in congress. Mr. Wil-
son was honored by the Columbian Uni-
versity and the Hampden-Sidney College,
both of which conferred upon him the de-
gree of LL. D. In 18S4 he was appointed
regent of the Smithsonian Institution at
Washington for two years, and at the end
of his term was re-appointed. He was
elected to the forty-seventh, forty-ninth,
fiftieth, fifty-first, fifty-second and fifty-
third congresses, but was defeated for re-
election to the fifty- fourth congress. Upon
the resignation of Mr. Bissell from the office
of postmaster- general, Mr. Wilson was ap-
pointed to fill the vacancy by President
Cleveland. His many years of public serv-
ice and the prominent part he took in the
discussion of public questions gave him a
national reputation.
CALVIN S. BRICE, a successful and
noted financier and politician, was
born at Denmark, Ohio, September 17,
1845, of an old Maryland family, who trace
their lineage from the Bryces, or Bruces, of
Airth, Scotland. The father of our subject
was a prominent Presbyterian clergyman,
who removed to Ohio in 1812. Calvin S.
Brice was educated in the common schools
of his native town, and at the age of thir-
teen entered the preparatory department of
Miami University at Oxford, Ohio, and the
following year entered the freshman class.
On the breaking out of the Civil war,
although but fifteen years old, he enlisted in
a company of three-months men. He re-
turned to complete his college course, but
re-enlisted in Company A, Eighty-sixth
Ohio Infantry, and served in the Virginia
campaign. He then returned to college,
from which he graduated in 1863. In 1864
he organized Company E, One Hundred
and Eightieth Ohio Infantry, and served
until the close of hostilities, in the western,
armies.
On his return home Mr. Brice entered
the law department of the University of
Michigan, and in 1866 was admitted to the
bar in Cincinnati. In the winter of 1870-
71 he went to Europe in the interests of the
Lake Erie & Louisville Railroad and pro-
cured a foreign loan. This road became
the Lake Erie & Western, of which, in
1887, Mr. Brice became president. This
was the first railroad in which he had a
personal interest. The conception, build-
ing and sale of the New York, Chicago &
St. Louis Railroad, known as the "Nickel
Plate," was largely due to him. He was
connected with many other railroads, among
which may be mentioned the following:
Chicago & Atlantic; Ohio Central; Rich-
mond & Danville; Richmond & West Point
182
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY.
Terminal; East Tennessee, Virginia &
Georgia; Memphis & Charleston; Mobile &
Birmingham; Kentucky Central; Duluth,
South Shore & Atlantic, and the Marquette,
Houghton & Ontonagon. In 1890 he was
elected United States senator from Ohio.
Notwithstanding his extensive business inter-
ests, Senator Brice gave a considerable
time to political matters, becoming one of
the leaders of the Democratic party and one
of the most widely known men in the
country.
BENJAMIN HARRISON, twenty-third
president of the United States, was
born August 20, 1S33, at North Bend,
Hamilton county, Ohio, in the house of his
grandfather, General William Henry Har-
rison, afterwards president of the United
States. His great-grandfather, Benjamin
Harrison, was a member of the Continental
congress, signed the Declaration of Inde-
pendence, and was three times elected gov-
ernor of Virginia.
The subject of this sketch entered Farm-
ers College at an early age, and two years
later entered Miami University, at Oxford,
Ohio. Upon graduation he entered the
office of Stover & Gwyne, of Cincinnati, as a
law student. He was admitted to the bar
two years later, and having inherited about
eight hundred dollars worth of property, he
married the daughter of Doctor Scott, pres-
ident of a female school at Oxford, Ohio,
and selected Indianapolis, Indiana, to begin
practice. In i860 he was nominated by
the Republicans as candidate for state
supreme court reporter, and did his first
political speaking in that campaign. He
was elected, and after two years in that
position he organized the Seventieth Indi-
ana Infantry, of which he was made colonel,
and with his regiment joined General Sher-
man's army. For bravery displayed at Re-
saca and Peach Tree Creek he was made a
brigadier-general. In the meantime the
office of supreme court reporter had been
declared vacant, and another party elected
to fill it. In the fall of 1864, having been
nominated for that office, General Harrison
obtained a thirty-day leave of absence, went
to Indiana, canvassed the state and was
elected. As he was about to rejoin his
command he was stricken down by an attack
of fever. After his recovery he joined
General Sherman's army and participated in
the closing events of the war.
In 1868 General Harrison declined to
be a candidate for the office of supreme
court reporter, and returned to the practice
of the law. His brilliant campaign for the
office of governor of Indiana in 1876,
brought him into public notice, although he
was defeated. He took a prominent part
in the presidential canvass of 1880, and was
chosen United States senator from Indiana,
serving six years. He then returned to the
practice of his profession. In 1888 he was
selected by the Republican convention at
Chicago as candidate for the presidency, and
after a heated campaign was elected over
Cleveland. He was inaugurated March 4,
18S9, and signed the McKinley bill October
1, 1890, perhaps the most distinctive feature
of his administration. In 1892 he was
again the nominee of the Republican party
for president, but was defeated by Grover
Cleveland, the Democratic candidate, and
again resumed the practice of law in Indian-
apolis.
J
OHN CRAIG HAVEMEYER, the
celebrated merchant and sugar refiner,
was born in New York City in 1833. His
father, William F. Havemeyer, and grand-
father, William Havemeyer, weie both sugar
COArPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHT.
183
refiners. The latter named came from
Buckeburg, Germany, in 1799, and settled
in New York, establishing one of the first
refineries in that city. William F. succeeded
his father, and at an early age retired from
business with a competency. He was three
times mayor of his native city, New York.
John C. Havemeyer was educated in
private schools, and was prepared for college
at Columbia College grammar school.
Owing to failing eyesight he was unable to
finish his college course, and began his
business career in a wholesale grocery store,
where he remained two years. In 1854,
after a year's travel abroad, he assumed the
responsibility of the office work in the sugar
refinery of Havemeyer & Molter, but two
years later etablished a refinery of his own
in Brooklyn. This afterwards developed into
the immense business of Havemeyer & Elder.
The capital was furnished by his father,
and, chafing under the anxiety caused by the
use of borrowed money, he sold out his
interest and returned to Havemeyer &
Molter. This firm dissolving the next year,
John C. declined an offer of partnership
from the successors, not wishing to use
borrowed money. For two years he remain-
ed with the house, receiving a share of the
profits as compensation. For some years
thereafter he was engaged in the commission
business, until failing health caused his
retirement. In 1871, he again engaged in
the sugar refining business at Greenport,
Long Island, with his brother and another
partner, under the firm name of Havemeyer
Brothers & Co. Here he remained until
1880, when his health again declined.
During the greater part of his life Mr.
Havemeyer was identified with many benev-
olent societies, including the New York
Port Society, Missionary Society of the
.Methodist Church, American Bible Society,
New York Sabbath School Society and
others. He was active in Young Men's
Christian Association work in New York,
and organized and was the first president of
an affiliated society of the same at Yonkers.
He was director of several railroad corpo-
rations and a trustee of the Continental Trust
Company of New York.
WALTER QUINTIN GRESHAM, an
eminent American statesman and
jurist, was born March 17, 1833, near Cory-
don, Harrison county, Indiana. He ac-
quired his education in the local schools of
the county and at Bloomington Academy,
although he did not graduate. After leav-
ing college he read law with Judge Porter
at Corydon, and just before the war he be-
gan to take an interest in politics. Mr.
Gresham was elected to the legislature from
Harrison county as a Republican; previous
to this the district had been represented by
a Democrat. At the commencement of
hostilities he was made lieutenant-colonel of
the Thirty-eighth Indiana Infantry, but
served in that regiment only a short time,
when he was appointed colonel of the Fifty-
third Indiana, and served under General
Grant at the siege of Vicksburg as brigadier-
general. Later he was under Sherman in
the famous "March to the Sea," and com-
manded a division of Blair's corps at the
siege of Atlanta where he was so badly
wounded in the leg that he was compelled
to return home. On his way home he was
forced to stop at New Albany, where he re-
mained a year before he was able to leave.
He was brevetted major-general at the close
of the war. While at New Albany, Mr.
Gresham was appointed state agent, his
duty being to pay the interest on the state
debt in New York, and he ran twice for
congress against ex-Speaker Kerr, but was
184
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRATHT.
defeated in both cases, although he greatly
reduced the Democratic majority. He was
held in high esteem by President Grant,
who offered him the portfolio of the interior
but Mr. Gresham declined, but accepted
the appointment of United States judge for
Indiana to succeed David McDonald.
Judge Gresham served on the United States
district court bench until 1883, when he
was appointed postmaster-general by Presi-
dent Arthur, but held that office only a few
months when he was made secretary of the
treasury. Near the end of President
Arthur's term. Judge Gresham was ap-
pointed judge of the United States circuit
court of the district composed of Indiana,
Illinois and contiguous states, which he held
until 1S93. Judge Gresham was one of the
presidential possibilities in the National Re-
publican convention in 1888, when General
Harrison was nominated, and was also men-
tioned for president in 1892. Later the
People's party made a strenuous effort to
induce him to become their candidate for
president, he refusing the offer, however,
and a few weeks before the election he an-
nounced that he would support Mr. Cleve-
land, the Democratic nominee for president.
Upon the election of Mr. Cleveland in the
fall of 1892, Judge Gresham was made the
secretary of state, and filled that position
until his death on May 28, 1895, at Wash-
ington, District of Columbia.
ELISHA B. ANDREWS, noted as an ed-
ucator and college president, was born
at Hinsdale, New Hampshire, January 10,
1844, his father and mother being Erastus
and Elmira (Bartlett) Andrews. In 1861,
he entered the service of the general gov-
ernment as private and non-commissioned
officer in the First Connecticut Heavy Ar-
tillery, and in 1863 was promoted to the
rank of second lieutenant. Returning home
he was prepared for college at Powers In-
stitute and at the Wesleyan Academy, and
entered Brown University. From here he
was graduated in 1870. For the succeeding
two years he was principal of the Connecti-
cut Literary Institute at Suffield, Connecticut.
Completing a course at the Newton Theo-
logical Institute, he was ordained pastor of
the First Baptist church at Beverly, Massa-
chusetts, July 2, 1874. The following
year he became president of the Denison
University, at Granville, Ohio. In 1879
he accepted the professorship of homiletics,
pastoral duties and church polity at Newton
Theological Institute. In 1882 he was
elected to the chair of history and political
economy at Brown University. The Uni-
versity of Nebraska honored him with an
LL. D. in 1884, and the same year Colby
University conferred the degree of D. D.
In 1888 he became professor of political
economy and public economy at Cornell
University, but the next year returned to
Brown University as its president. From
the time of his inauguration the college work
broadened in many ways. Many timely
and generous donations from friends and
alumni of the college were influenced by
him, and large additions made "to the same.
Professor Andrews published, in 1887,
"Institutes of General History," and in
1888, " Institutes of Economics."
JOHN WILLIAM DRAPER, the subject
of the present biography, was, during his
life, one of the most distinguished chemists
and scientific writers in America. He was
an Englishman by birth, born at Liverpool,
May 5, 181 1, and was reared in his native
land, receiving an excellent education,
graduating at the University of London. In
1833 he came to the United States, and
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPIIV.
181
settled first in Pennsylvania. He graduated
in medicine at the University of Philadel-
phia, in 1836, and for three years following
was professor of chemistry and physiology
at Hampden-Sidney College. He then be-
came professor of chemistry in the New York
University, with which institution he was
prominently connected for many years. It
is stated on excellent authority that Pro-
fessor Draper, in 1839, took the first photo-
graphic picture ever taken from life. He
was a great student, and carried on many
important and intricate experiments along
scientific lines. He discovered many of the
fundamental facts of spectrum analysis,
which he published. He published a number
of works of great merit, many of which are
recognized as authority upon the subjects of
which they treat. Among his work were:
"Human Physiology, Statistical and Dyna-
mical of the Conditions and Cause of Life
in Man," "History of Intellectual Develop-
ment of Europe," " History of the Ameri-
can Civil War," besides a number of works
on chemistry, optics and mathematics. Pro-
fessor Draper continued to hold a high place
among the scientific scholars of America
until his death, which occurred in January,
1882.
GEORGE W. PECK, ex-governor of
the state of Wisconsin and a famous
journalist and humorist, was born in Jeffer-
son county. New York, September 28, 1840.
When he was about three years of age his
parents removed to Wisconsin, settling near
Whitewater, where young Peck received his
education at the public schools. At fifteen
he entered the office of the "Whitewater
Register," where he learned the printer's
art. He helped start the "Jefferson County
Republican" later on, but sold out his
interest therein and set type in the office of
11
the "State Journal," at Madison. At the
outbreak of the war he enlisted in the
Fourth Wisconsin Cavalry as a private, and
after serving four years returned a second
lieutenant. He then started the " Ripon
Representative," which he sold not long
after, and removing to New York, was on
the staff of Mark Pomeroy's "Democrat."
Going to La Crosse, later, he conducted the
La Crosse branch paper, a half interest in
which he bought in 1874. He next started
"Peck's Sun," which four years later he
removed to Milwaukee. While in La
Crosse he was chief of police one year, and
also chief clerk of the Democratic assembly
in 1874. It was in 1878 that Mr. Peck
took his paper to Milwaukee, and achieved
his first permanent success, the circulation
increasing to 80,000. For ten years he was
regarded as one of the most original, versa-
tile and entertaining writers in the country,
and he has . delineated every phase of
country newspaper life, army life, domestic
experience, travel and city adventure. Up
to 1890 Mr. Peck took but little part in
politics, but in that year was elected mayor
of Milwaukee on the Democratic ticket.
The following August he was elected gov-
ernor of Wisconsin by a large majority,
the "Bennett School Bill" figuring to a
large extent in his favor.
Mr. Peck, besides many newspaper arti-
cles in his peculiar vein and numerous lect-
ures, bubbling over with fun, is known to
fame by the following books: "Peck's Bad
Boy and his Pa," and "The Grocery Man
and Peck's Bad Boy."
CHARLES O'CONOR, who was for
many years the acknowledged leader
of the legal profession of New York City,
was also conceded to be one of the greatest
lawyers America has produced. He was
188
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY
born in New York City in 1804, his father
being an educated Irish gentleman. Charles
received a. common-school education, and
early took up the study of law, being ad-
mitted to practice in 1824. His close ap-
plication and untiring energy and industry
soon placed him in the front rank of the
profession, and within a few years he was
handling many of the most important cases.
One of the first great cases he had and which
gained him a wide reputation, was that of
"Jack, the Fugitive Slave," in 1835, in which
his masterful argument before the supreme
court attracted wide attention and com-
ment. Charles O'Conor was a Democrat
all his life. He did not aspire to office-
holding, however, and never held any office
except that of district attorney under Presi-
dent Pierce's administration, which he only
retained a short time. He took an active
interest, however, in public questions, and
was a member of the state (New York) con-
stitutional convention in 1864. In 1868 he
was nominated for the presidency by the
" Extreme Democrats." His death occurred
in May, 1884.
SIMON BOLIVAR BU.CKNER, a noted
American officer and major-general in
the Confederate army, was born in Ken-
tucky in 1823. He graduated from West
Point Military Academy in 1844, served in
the United States infantry and was later as-
signed to commissary duty with the rank of
captain. He served several years at fron-
tier posts, and was assistant professor in the
military academy in 1846. He was with
General Scott in the Mexican war, and en-
gaged in all the battles from Vera Cruz to
the capture of the Mexican capital. He
was wounded at Cherubusco and brevetted
first lieutenant, and at Molino del Rey was
brevetted captain. After the close of the
Mexican war he returned to West Point as
assistant instructor, and was then assigned
to commissary duty at New York. He re-
signed in 1855 and became superintendent
of construction of the Chicago custom house.
He was made adjutant-general, with the
rank of colonel, of Illinois militia, and was
colonel of Illinois volunteers raised for the
Utah expedition, but was not mustered into
service. In i860 he removed to Kentucky,
where he settled on a farm near Louisville
and became inspector-general in command
of the Kentucky Home Guards. At the
opening of the Civil war he joined the Con-
federate army, and was given command at
Bowling Green, Kentucky, which he was
compelled to abandon after the capture of
Fort Henry. He then retired tp Fort Don-
elson, and was there captured with sixteen
thousand men, and an immense store of pro-
visions, by General Grant, in February,
1862. He was held as a prisoner of war
at Fort Warren until August of that year.
He commanded a division of Hardee's corps
in Bragg's Army of the Tennessee, and was
afterward assigned to the third division and
participated in the battles of Chickamauga,
and Murfreesboro. He was with Kirby
Smith when that general surrendered his
army to General Canby in May, 1865. He
was an unsuccessful candidate for the vice-
presidency on the Gold Democratic ticket
with Senator John M. Palmer in 1896.
SIMON KENTON, one of the famous pio-
neers and scouts whose names fill the
pages of the early history of our country,
was born in Fauquier county, Virginia,
April 3, 1755. In consequence of an affray,
at the age of eighteen, young Kenton went
to Kentucky, then the "Dark and Bloody
Ground," and became associated with Dan-
iel Boone and other pioneers of that region.
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY,
L89
For a short time he acted as a scout and
spy for Lord Dunmore, the British governor
of Virginia, but afterward taking the side
of the struggling colonists, participated in
the war for independence west of the Alle-
ghanies. In 1784 he returned to Virginia,
but did not remain there long, going back
with his family to Kentucky. From
that time until 1793 he participated in all
the combats and battles of that time, and
until "Mad Anthony" Wayne swept the
Valley of the Ohio, and settled the suprem-
acy of the whites in that region. Kenton
laid claim to large tracts of land in the new
country he had helped to open up, but
through ignorance of law, and the growing
value of the land, lost it all and was reduced
to poverty. During the war with England
in 1812-15, Kenton took part in the inva-
sion of Canada with the Kentucky troops
and participated in the battle of the Thames.
He finally bad land granted him by the
legislature of Kentucky, and received a pen-
sion from the United States government.
He died in Logan county, Ohio, April 29,
1836.
ELIHU BENJAMIN WASHBURNE, an
American statesman of eminence, was
born in Livermore, Maine, September 23,
1 8 16. He learned the trade of printer, but
abandoned that calling at the age of eight-
een and entered the Kent's Hill Academy at
Rending, Maine, and then took up the study
of law, reading in Hallowell, Boston, and at
the Harvard Law School. He began prac-
tice at Galena, Illinois, in 1840. He was
elected to congress in 1852, and represented
his district in that body continuously until
March, 1 S69, and at the time of his retire-
ment he had served a greater number of
consecutive terms than any other member
of the house. In 1873 President Grant ap-
pointed him secretary of state, which posi-
tion he resigned to accept that of minister
to France. During the Franco- Prussian
war, including the siege of Paris and the
reign of the Commune, Mr. Washburne re-
mained at his post, protecting the lives and
property of his countrymen, as well as that
of other foreign residents in Paris, while the
ministers of all other powers abandoned
their posts at a time when they were most
needed. As far as possible he extended
protection to unfortunate German residents,
who were the particular objects of hatred of
the populace, and his firmness and the suc-
cess which attended his efforts won the ad-
miration of all Europe. Mr. Washburne
died at Chicago, Illinois, October 22, 18S7.
U HLLIAM CRAMP, one of the most
V V extensive shipbuilders of this coun-
try, was born in Kensington, then a suburb,
now a part of Philadelphia, in 1806. He
received a thorough English education, and
when he left school was associated with
Samuel Grice, one of the most eminent
naval architects of his day. In 1S30, hav-
ing mastered all the details of shipbuilding,
Mr. Cramp engaged in business on his own
account. By reason of ability and excel-
lent work he prospered from the start, until
now, in the hands of his sons, under the
name of William Cramp & Sons' Ship and
Engine Building Company, it has become the
mpst complete shipbuilding plant and flaval
arsenal in the western hemisphere, and fully
equal to any in the world. As Mr. Cramp's
sons attained manhood they learned their
father's profession, and were admitted to a
partnership. In 1872 the firm was incor-
porated under the title given above. Until
i860 wood was used in building vessels, al-
though pace was kept with all advances in
the art of shipbuilding. At the opening of
190
COMr/:XBICM of bjograpiiv
the w^r came an unexpected demand for
war vessels, which they promptly met. The
sea-going ironclad "New Ironsides" was
built by them in 1862, followed by a num-
ber of formidable ironclads and the cruiser
"Chattanooga." They subsequently built
several war vessels for the Russian and
other governments which added to their
reputation. When the American steamship
line was established in 1870, the Cramps
were commissioned to build for it four first-
class iron steamships, the " Pennsylvania,"
"Ohio," "Indiana" and "Illinois," which
they turned out in rapid order, some of the
finest specimens of the naval architecture of
their day. William Cramp remained at the
head of the great company he had founded
until his death, which occurred January 6,
1879.
Charles H. Cramp, the successor of his
father as head of the William Cramp &
Sons' Ship and Engine Building Company,
was born in Philadelphia May 9, 1829, and
received an excellent education in his native
city, which he sedulously sought to sup-
plement by close study until he became
an authority on general subjects and the
best naval architect on the western hemis-
phere. Many of the best vessels of our
new navy were built by this immense con-
cern.
WASHINGTON ALLSTON, probably
the greatest American painter, was
born in South Carolina in 1779. He was
sent to school at the age of seven years at
Newport, Rhode Island, where he met Ed-
ward Malbone, two years his senior, and
who later became a painter of note. The
friendship that sprang up between them un-
doubtedly influenced young Allston in the
choice of a profession. He graduated from
Harvard in 1800, and went to England the
following year, after pursuing his studies for
a year under his friend Malbone at his home
in South Carolina. He became a student
at the Royal Academy where the great
American, Benjamin West, presided, and
who became his intimate friend. Allston
later went to Paris, and then to Italy, where
four years were spent, mostly at Rome. In
1809 he returned to America, but soon after
returned to London, having married in the
meantime a sister of Dr. Channing. In
a short time his first great work appeared,
"The Dead Man Restored to Life by the
Bones of Elisha," which took the British
Association prize and firmly established his
reputation. Other paintings followed in
quick succession, the greatest among which
were "Uriel in the Center of the Sun,"
"Saint Peter Liberated by the Angel," and
"Jacob's Dream," supplemented by many
smaller pieces. Hard work, and grief at the
death of his wife began to tell upon his health,
and he left London in 1818 for America.
The same year he was elected an associate
of the Royal Academy. During the next
few years he painted "Jeremiah," "Witch
ofEndor," and "Beatrice." In 1830 Alls-
ton married a daughter of Judge Dana, and
went to Cambridge, which was his home
until his death. Here he produced the
"Vision of the Bloody Hand," "Rosalie,"
and many less noted pieces, and had given
one week of labor to his unfinished master-
piece, "Belshazzar's Feast," when death
ended his career July 9, 1843.
JOHN ROACH, ship builder and manu-
facturer, whose career was a marvel of.
industrial labor, and who impressed his in-
dividuality and genius upon the times in
which he lived more, perhaps, than any
other manufacturer in America. He was
born at Mitchelstown, County Cork, Ire-
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY.
191
land, December 25, 181 5, the son of a
wealthy merchant. He attended school
until he was thirteen, when his father be-
came financially embarrassed and failed
and shortly after died; John determined to
come to America and carve out a fortune
for himself. He landed in New York at the
age of sixteen, and soon obtained employ-
ment at the Howell Iron Works in New Jer-
sey, at twenty- five cents a day. He soon
made himself a place in the world, and at
the end of three years had saved some
twelve hundred dollars, which he lost by
the failure of his employer, in whose hands
it was left. Returning to New York he
began to learn how to make castings for
marine engines and ship work. Having
again accumulated one thousand dollars, in
company with three fellow workmen, he
purchased a small foundry in New York,
but soon became sole proprietor. At the
end of four years he had saved thirty thou-
sand dollars, besides enlarging his works.
In 1856 his works were destroyed by a
boiler explosion, and being unable to collect
ths insurance, was left, after paying his
debts, without a dollar. However, his
credit and reputation for integrity was good,
and he built the Etna Iron Works, giving it
capacity to construct larger marine engines
than any previously built in this country.
Here he turned out immense engines for
the steam ram Dunderberg, for the war ves-
sels Winooski and Neshaning, and other
large vessels. To accommodate his increas-
ing business, Mr. Roach, in 1869, pur-
chased the Morgan Iron Works, one of the
largest in New York, and shortly after sev-
eral others. In 1871 he bought the Ches-
ter ship yards, which he added to largely,
erecting a rolling mill and blast furnace, and
providing every facility for fcuilding a ship
out of the ore and timber. This immense
plant covered a large area, was valued at
several millions of dollars, and was known
as the Delaware River Iron Shipbuilding
and Engine Works, of which Mr. Roach
was the principal owner. He built a large
percentage of the iron vessels now flying
the American flag, the bulk of his business
being for private parties. In 1875 ne built
the sectional dry docks at Pensacola. He,
about this time, drew the attention of the
government to the use of compound marine
engines, and thus was the means of im-
proving the speed and economy of the ves-
sels of our new navy. In 1883 Mr. Roach
commenced work on the three cruisers for
the government, the "Chicago," "Boston"
and "Atlanta," and the dispatch boat
" Dolphin." For some cause the secretary
of the navy refused to receive the latter and
decided that Mr. Roach's contract would
r.3t hold. This embarrassed Mr. Roach,
as a large amount of his capital was in-
volved in these contracts, and for the pro-
tection of bondsmen and creditors, July 18,
1885, he made an assignment, but the
financial trouble broke down his strong con-
stitution, and January 10, 1887, he died.
His son, John B. Roach, succeeded to the
shipbuilding interests, while Stephen W.
Roach inherited the Morgan Iron Works at
New York.
JOHN SINGLETON COPLEY, one of
the two great painters who laid the
foundation of true American art, was born
in Boston in 1737, one year earlier than his
great contemporary, Benjamin West. His
education was limited to the common schools
of that time, and his training in art he ob-
tained by his own observation and experi-
ments solely. When he was about seven-
teen years old he had mapped out his future,
however, by choosing painting as his pro-
192
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPIIV.
fession. If he ever studied under any
teacher in his early efforts, we have no au-
thentic account of it, and tradition credits
the young artist's wonderful success en-
tirely to his own talent and untiring effort.
It is almost incredible that at the age of
twenty-three years his income from his
works aggregated fifteen hundred dollars
per annum, a very great sum ki those days.
In 1774 he went to Europe in search of ma-
terial for study, which was so rare in his
native land. After some time spent in Italy
he finally took up his permanent residence
in England. In 1783 he was made a mem-
ber of the Royal Academy, and later his
son had the high honor of becoming lord
chancellor of England and Lord Lyndhurst.
Many specimens of Copley's work are to
be found in the Memorial Hall at Harvard
and in the Boston Museum, as well as a few
of the works upon which he modeled his
style. Copley was essentially a portrait
painter, though his historical paintings at-
tained great celebrity, his masterpiece
being his ' ' Death of Major Pierson, " though
that distinction has by some been given to
his "Death of Chatham." It is said that
he never saw a good picture until he was
thirty-five years old,- yet his portraits prior
to that period are regarded as rare speci-
mens. He died in 181 5.
HENRY B. PLANT, one of the greatest
railroad men of the country, became
famous as president of the Plant system of
railway and steamer lines, and also the
Southern & Texas Express Co. He was
born in October, 1S19, at Branford,
Connecticut, and entered the railroad serv-
ice in 1844, serving as express messenger
on the Hartford & New Haven Railroad until
1853, during which time he had entire
charge of the expr^?? business of that road.
He went south in 1853 and established ex-
press lines on various southern railways, and
in 1 86 1 organized the Southern Express
Co., and became its president. In 1879 he
purchased, with others, the Atlantic '& Gulf
Railroad of Georgia, and later reorganized
the Savannah, Florida & Western Railroad,
of which he became president. He pur-
chased and rebuilt, in 1880, the Savannah
& Charleston Railroad, now Charleston &
Savannah. Not long after this he organ-
ized the Plant Investment Co., to control
these railroads and advance their interests
generally, and later established a steamboat
line on the St. John's river, in Florida.
From 1853 until i860 he was general
superintendent of the southern division of
the Adams Express Co., and in 1867 be-
came president of the Texas Express Co.
The "Plant system" of railway, steamer
and steamship lines is one of the greatest
business corporations of the southern states.
WADE HAMPTON, a noted Confeder-
ate officer, was born at Columbia,
South Carolina, in 18 18. He graduated
from the South Carolina College, took an
active part in politics, and was twice elected
to the legislature of his state. In 1861 he
joined the Confederate army, and command-
ed the " Hampton Legion" at the first bat-
tle of Bull Run, in July, 1861. He did
meritorious service, was wounded, and pro-
moted to brigadier-general. He command-
ed a brigade at Seven Pines, in 1862, and
was again wounded. He was engaged in
the battle of Antietam in September of the
same year, and participated in the raid into
Pennsylvania in October. In 1863 he was
with Lee at Gettysburg, where he was
wounded for the third time. He was pro-
moted to the rank of lieutenant-general, and
commanded a troop of cavalry in Lee's
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY.
193
army during 1864, and was in numerous en-
gagements. In 1865 he was in South Car-
olina, and commanded the cavalry rear
guard of the Confederate army in its stub-
born retreat before General Sherman on his
advance toward Richmond.
After the war Hampton took an active
part in politics, and was a prominent figure
at the Democratic national convention in
1868, which nominated Seymour and Blair
for president and vice-president. He was
governor of South Carolina, and took his
seat in the United States senate in 1879,
where he became a conspicuous figure in
national affairs.
NIKOLA TESLA, one of the most cele-
brated electricians America has known,
was born in 1857, at Smiljau, Lika, Servia.
He descended from an old and representative
family of that country. His father was a
a minister of the Greek church, of high rank,
while his mother was a woman of remarka-
ble skill in the construction of looms, churns
and the machinery required in a rural home.
Nikola received early education in the
public schools of Gospich, when he was
sent to the higher "Real Schule " at Karl-
stadt, where, after a three years' course,
he graduated in 1873. He devoted him-
self to experiments in electricity and
magnetism, to the chagrin of his father,
who had destined him for the ministry,
but giving way to the boy's evident genius
he was allowed to continue his studies in
the polytechnic school at Gratz. He in-
herited a wonderful intuition which enabled
him to see through the intricacies of ma-
chinery, and despite his instructor's demon-
stration that a dynamo could not be oper-
ated without commutators or brushes,
began experiments which finally resulted in
his rotating field motors. After the study
of languages at Prague and Buda-Pesth, he
became associated with M. Puskas, who
had introduced the telephone into Hungary.
He invented several improvements, but
being unable to reap the necessary benefit
from them, he, in search of a wider field,
went to Paris, where he found employment
with one of the electric lighting companies
as electrical engineer. Soon he set his face
westward, and coming to the United States
for a time found congenial employment with
Thomas A. Edison. Finding it impossible,
overshadowed as he was, to carry out his
own ideas he left the Edison works to join
a company formed to place his own inven-
tions on the market. He perfected his
rotary field principle, adapting it to circuits
then in operation. It is said of him that
some of his proved theories will change the
entire electrical science. It would, in an
cLrticle of this length, be impossible to ex-
plain all that Tesla accomplished for the
practical side of electrical engineering.
His discoveries formed the basis of the at-
tempt to utilize the water power of Niagara
Falls. His work ranges far beyond the
vast department of polyphase currents and
high potential lighting and includes many
inventions in arc lighting, transformers,
pyro and thermo-magnetic motors, new
forms of incandescent lamps, unipolar dyna-
mos and many others.
CHARLES B. LEWIS won fame as arr
American humorist under the name of
" M. Quad." It is said he owes his
celebrity originally to the fact that he was
once mixed up in a boiler explosion on the
Ohio river, and the impressions he received
from the event he set up from his case when
he was in the composing room of an ob-
scure Michigan paper. His style possesses a
peculiar quaintness, and there runs through
194
COMPEXDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY
it a vein of philosophy. Mr. Lewis was
born in 1844, near a town called Liverpool,
Ohio. He was, however, raised in Lansing,
Michigan, where he spent a year in an agri-
cultural college, going from there to the
composing room of the "Lansing Demo-
crat." At the outbreak of the war he en-
listed in the service, remained during the
entire war, and then returned to Lansing.
The explosion of the boiler that "blew him
into fame, " took place two years later, while
he was on his way south. When he re-
covered physically, he brought suit for dam-
ages against the steamboat company, which
he gained, and was awarded a verdict of
twelve thousand dollars for injuries re-
ceived. It was while he was employed by
the " Jacksonian " of Pontiac, Mich., that he
set up his account of how he felt while being
blown up. He says that he signed it "M
Quad," because "a bourgeoise em quad is
useless except in its own line — it won't
justify with any other type." Soon after,
because of the celebrity he attained by this
screed, Mr. Lewis secured a place on the
staff of the " Detroit Free Press," and made
for that paper a wide reputation. His
sketches of the "Lime Kiln Club" and
" Brudder Gardner " are perhaps the best
known of his humorous writings.
HIRAM S. MAXIM, the famous inventor,
was born in Sangersville, Maine,
February 5, 1840, the son of Isaac W.
and Harriet B. Maxim. The town of his
birth was but a small place, in the
woods, on the confines of civilization,
and the family endured many hardships.
They were without means and entirely
-dependent on themselves to make out of
raw materials all they needed. The mother
was an expert spinner, weaver, dyer and
seamstress and the father a trapper, tanner,
miller, blacksmith, carpenter, mason and
farmer. Amid such surroundings young
Maxim gave early promise of remarkable
aptitude. With the universal Yankee jack-
knife the products of his skill excited the
wonder and interest of the locality. His
parents did not encourage his latent genius
but apprenticed him to a coach builder.
Four years he labored at this uncongenial
trade but at the end of that time he forsook
it and entered a machine shop at Fitchburg,
Massachusetts. Soon mastering the details
of that business and that of mechanical
drawing, he went to Boston as the foreman
of the philosophical instrument manufactory.
From thence he went to New York and with
the Novelty Iron Works Shipbuilding Co.
he gained experience in these trades. His
inventions up to this time consisted of
improvements in steam engines, and an
automatic gas machine, which came into
general use. In 1877 he turned his attention
to electricity, and in 187S produced an
incandescent lamp, that would burn 1,000
hours. He was the first to design a process
for flashing electric carbons, and the first
to "standardize" carbons for electric light-
ing. In 1880 he visited Europe and exhibit-
ing, at the Paris Exposition of 1S81, a self-
regulating machine, was decorated with the
Legion of Honor. In 1883 he returned to
London as the European representative of the
United States Electric Light Co. An incident
of his boyhood, in which the recoil of a rifle
was noticed by him, and the apparent loss
of power shown, in 188 1-2 prompted the
invention of a gun which utilizes the recoil to
automatically load and fire seven hundred
and seventy shots per minute. The Maxim-
Nordenfelt Gun Co., with a capital of nine
million dollars, grew from this. In 1883 he
patented his electric training gear for large
guns. And later turned his attention to fly-
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPIlT
195
ing machines, which he claimed were not an
impossibility. He took out over one hundred
patents for smokeless gunpowder, and for pe-
troleum and other motors and autocycles.
JOHN DAVISON ROCKEFELLER,
<J one of America's very greatest financiers
and philanthropists, was born in Richford,
Tioga county, New York, July 8, 1839. He
received a common-school education in his
native place, and in 1853, when his parents
removed to Cleveland, Ohio, he entered the
high school of that city. After a two-years'
course of diligent work, he entered the com-
mission and forwarding house of Hewitt &
Tuttle, of Cleveland, remaining with the
firm some years, and then began business
for himself, forming a partnership with
Morris B. Clark. Mr. Rockefeller was then
but nineteen years of age, and during the
year i860, in connection with others, they
started the oil refining business, under the
firm name of Andrews, Clark & Co. Mr.
Rockefeller and Mr. Andrews purchased the
interest of their associates, and, after taking
William Rockefeller into the firm, established
offices in Cleveland under the name of
William Rockefeller & Co. Shortly after
this the house of Rockefeller & Co. was es-
tablished in New York for the purpose of
finding a market for their products, -and two
years later all the refining companies were
consolidated under the firm name of Rocke-
feller, Andrews & Flagler. This firm was
succeeded in 1870 by the Standard Oil
Company of Ohio, said to be the most
gigantic business corporation of modern
times. John D. Rockefeller's fortune has
been variously estimated at from one hun-
dred million to two hundred million dollars.
Mr. Rockefeller's philanthropy mani-
fested itself principally through the American
Baptist Educational Society. He donated
the building for the Spelman Institute at
Atlanta, Georgia, a school for the instruction
of negroes. His other gifts were to the
University of Rochester, Cook Academy,
Peddie Institute, and Vassar College, be-
sides smaller gifts to many institutions
throughout the country. His princely do-
nations, however, were to the University of
Chicago. His first gift to this institution
was a conditional offer of six hundred thou-
sand dollars in 1889, and when this amount
was paid he added one million more. Dur-
ing 1892 he made it two gifts of one million
each, and all told, his donations to this one
institution aggregated between seven and
eight millions of dollars.
JOHN M. PALMER.— For over a third
of a century this gentleman occupied a
prominent place in the political world, both
in the state of Illinois and on the broader
platform of national issues.
Mr. Palmer was born at Eagle Creek,
Scott county, Kentucky, September 13,
18 17. The family subsequently removed
to Christian county, in the same state, where
he acquired a common-school education, and
made his home until 183 1. His father was
opposed to slavery, and in the latter year
removed to Illinois and settled near Alton.
In 1834 John entered Alton College, or-
ganized on the manual-labor plan, but his
funds failing, abandoned it and entered a
cooper shop. He subsequently was en-
gaged in peddling, and teaching a district
school near Canton. In 1838 he began the
study of law, and the following year re-
moved to Carlinville, where, in December of
that year, he was admitted to the bar. He
was shortly after defeated for county clerk.
In 1843 he was elected probate judge. In
the constitutional convention of 1847, Mr.
Palmer was a delegate, and from 1849 to
106
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY.
1851 he was county judge. In 1852 he be-
came a member of the state senate, but not
being with his party on the slavery question
he resigned that office in 1854. In 1856
Mr. Palmer was chairman of the first Re-
publican state convention held in Illinois,
and the same year was a delegate to the
national convention. In i860 he was an
elector on the Lincoln ticket, and on the
breaking out of the war entered the service
as colonel of the Fourteenth Illinois Infan-
try, but was shortly after brevetted brigadier-
general. In August, 1862, he organized
the One Hundred and Twenty-second Illi-
nois Infantry, but in September he was
placed in command of the first division of
the Army of the Mississippi, afterward was
promoted to the rank of major-general. In
1865 he was assigned to the military ad-
ministration in Kentucky. In 1867 General
Palmer was elected governor of Illinois and
served four years. In 1872 he went with
the Liberal Republicans, who supported
Horace Greeley, after which time he was
identified with the Democratic party. In
1890 he was elected United States senator
from Illinois, and served as such for six
years. In 1896, on the adoption of the sil-
ver plank in the platform of the Democratic
part)', General Palmer consented to lead,
as presidential candidate, the National Dem-
ocrats, or Gold Democracy.
WILLIAM H. BEARD, the humorist
among American painters, was born
at Painesville, Ohio, in 1821. His father,
James H. Beard, was also a painter of na-
tional reputation. William H. Beard be-
gan his career as a traveling portrait
painter. He pursued his studies in New
York, and later removed to Buffalo, where
he achieved reputation. He then went to
Italy and after a short stay returned to New
York and opened a studio. One of his
earliest paintings was a small picture called
"Cat and Kittens," which was placed in
the National Academy on exhibition. Among
his best productions are "Raining Cats and
Dogs," "The Dance of Silenus," "Bears
on a Bender," "Bulls and Bears," " Whoo!"
" Grimalkin's Dream," " Little Red Riding
Hood," "The Guardian of the Flag." His
animal pictures convey the most ludicrous
and satirical ideas, and the intelligent,
human expression in their faces is most
comical. Some artists and critics have re-
fused to give Mr. Beard a place among the
first circles in art, solely on account of the
class of subjects he has chosen.
WW. CORCORAN, the noted philan-
thropist, was born at Georgetown,
District of Columbia ; December 27, 1798.
At the age of twenty-five he entered the
banking business in Washington, and in
time became very wealthy. He was
noted for his magnificent donations to char-
ity. Oak Hill cemetery was donated to
Georgetown in 1847, and ten years later the
Corcoran Art Gallery, Temple of Art, was
presented to the city of Washington. The
uncompleted building was utilized by the
government as quartermaster's headquar-
ters during the war. The building was
completed after the war at a cost of a mil-
lion and a half dollars, all the gift of Mr.
Corcoran. The Louise Home for Women
is another noble charity to his credit. Its
object is the care of women of gentle breed-
ing who in declining years are without
means of support. In addition to this he
gave liberally to many worthy institutions
of learning and charity. He died at Wash-
ington February 24, 1888.
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY.
197
ALBERT BIERSTADT, the noted paint-
er of American landscape, was born in
Dusseldorf, Germany, in 1829, and was
brought to America by his parents at the
age of two years. He received his early
education here, but returned to Dusseldorf
to study painting, and also went to Rome.
On his return to America he accompanied
Lander's expedition across the continent, in
1858, and soon after produced his most
popular work, "The Rocky Mountains —
Lander's Peak. " Its boldness and grandeur
were so unusual that it made him famous.
The picture sold for twenty-five thousand
dollars. In 1867 Mr. Bierstadt went to
Europe, with a government commission,
and gathered materials for his great historic-
al work, "Discovery of the North River
by Hendrik Hudson." Others of his great
works were "Storm in the Rocky Mount-
ains," "Valley of the Yosemite," "North
Fork of the Platte," "Diamond Pool,"
"Mount Hood," "Mount Rosalie," and
"The Sierra Nevada Mountains." His
"Estes Park" sold for fifteen thousand
dollars, and "Mount Rosalie" brought
thirty-five thousand dollars. His smaller
Rocky mountain scenes, however, are vast-
ly superior to his larger works in execution
and coloring.
ADDISON CAMMACK, a famous mill-
ionaire Wall street speculator, was
born in Kentucky. When sixteen years old
he ran away from home and went to New
Orleans, where he went to work in a ship-
ping house. He outlived and outworked
all the partners, and became the head of the
firm before the opening of the war. At
that time he fitted out small vessels and en-
gaged in running the blockade of southern
ports and carrying ammunition, merchan-
dise, etc., to the southern people. This
made him a fortune. At the close of the
war he quit business and went to New
York. For two years he did not enter any
active business, but seemed to be simply an
on-looker in the great speculative center of
America. He was observing keenly the
methods and financial machinery, however,
and when, in 1867, he formed a partnership
with the popular Charles J. Osborne, the
firm began to prosper. He never had an
office on the street, but wandered into the
various brokers' offices and placed his orders
as he saw fit. In 1873 he dissolved his
partnership with Osborne and operated
alone. He joined a band of speculative
conspirators known as the "Twenty-third
party," and was the ruling spirit in that or-
ganization .for the control of the stock mar-
ket. He was always on the ' ' bear " side and
the only serious obstacle he ever encoun-
tered was the persistent boom in industrial
stocks, particularly sugar, engineered by
James R. Keane. Mr. Cammack fought
Keane for two years, and during the time is
said to have lost no less than two million
dollars before he abandoned the fight.
WALT. WHITMAN.— Foremost among
the lesser poets of the latter part of the
nineteenth century, the gentleman whose
name adorns the head of this article takes
a conspicuous place.
Whitman was born at West Hills, Long
Island, New York, May 13, 1809. In the
schools of Brooklyn he laid the foundation
of his education, and early in life learned the
printer's trade. For a time he taught coun-
try schools in his native state. In 1846-7
he was editor of the " Brooklyn Eagle, "
but in 1848-9 was on the editorial staff of
the "Crescent," of New Orleans. He
made an extended tour throughout the
United States and Canada, and returned to
198
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY
Brooklyn, where, in 1850, he published the
"Freeman." For some years succeeding
this he was engaged as carpenter and builder.
During the Civil war, Whitman acted as
a volunteer nurse in the hospitals at
Washington and vicinity and from the close
of hostilities until 1873 he was employed
in various clerkships in the government
offices in the nation's capital. In the latter
year he was stricken with paralysis as a
result of his labors in the hospital, it is
said, and being partially disabled lived for
many years at Camden, New Jersey.
The first edition of the work which was
to bring him fame, "Leaves of Grass," was
published in 1855 and was but a small
volume of about ninety-four pages. Seven
or eight editions of "Leaves of Grass" have
been issued, each enlarged and enriched with
new poems. "Drum Taps," at first a
separate publication, has been incorporated
with the others. This volume and one
prose writing entitled "Specimen Days and
Collect," constituted his whole work.
Walt. Whitman died at Camden, New
Jersey, March 26, 1892.
H
EXRY DUPONT, who became cele-
brated as America's greatest manufact-
urer of gunpowder, was a native of Dela-
ware, born August 8, 1812. He received
his education in its higher branches at the
United States Military Academy at West
Point, from which he graduated and entered
the army as second lieutenant of artillery in
1833. In 1834 he resigned and became
proprietor of the extensive gunpowder
manufacturing plant that bears his name,
near Wilmington, Delaware. His large
business interests interfered with his tak-
ing any active participation in political
life, although for many years he served
as adjutant-general of his native stat*' a A
during the war as major-general command-
ing the Home Guards. He died August 8,
1889. His son, Henry A. Dupont, also was
a native of Delaware, and was born July 30,
1838. After graduating from West Point
in 1 86 1, he entered the army as second
lieutenant of engineers. Shortly after he
was transferred to the Fifth Artillery as first
lieutenant. He was promoted to the rank
of captain in 1864, serving in camp and
garrison most of the time. He was in com-
mand of a battery in the campaign of
1863-4. Aschief of artillery of the army of
West Virginia, he figured until the close of
the war, being in the battles of Opequan,
Fisher's Hill and Cedar . Creek, besides
many minor engagements. He afterward
acted as instructor in the artillery school at
Fortress Monroe, and on special duty at
West Point. He resigned from the army
March 1, 1875.
w
ILLIAM DEERING, one of the fa-
also a philanthropist and patron of educa-
tion, was born in Maine in 1826. His an-
cestors were English, having settled in New
England in 1634. Early in life it was Will-
iam's intention to become a physician, and
after completing his common-school educa-
tion, when about eighteen years of age, he
began an apprenticeship with a physician.
A short time later, however, at the request
of his father, he took charge of his father's
business interests, which included a woolen
mill, retail store and grist mill, after which
he became agent for a dry goods commission
house in Portland, where he was married.
Later he became partner in the firm, and
removed to New York. The business pros-
pered, and after a number of years, on ac-
count of failing health, Mr. Deering sold his
interest to his partner, a Mr. Milner. The
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY.
199
business has since made Mr. Milner a mill-
ionaire many times over. A few years
later Mr. Deering located in Chicago. His
beginning in the manufacture of reapers,
which has since made his name famous,
was somewhat of an accident. He had
loaned money to a man in that business,
and in 1878 was compelled to buy out the
business to protect his interests. The busi-
ness developed rapidly and grew to immense
proportions. The factories now cover sixty-
two acres of ground and employ many thou-
sands of men.
John McAllister schofield, an
American general, was born in Chautau-
qua county, New York, September 29, 1831.
He graduated at West Point in 1853, and
was for five years assistant professor of nat-
ural philosophy in that institution. In 1861
he entered the volunteer service as major of
the First Missouri Volunteers, and was ap-
pointed chief of staff by General Lyon, under
whom he fought at the battle of Wilson's
Creek. In November, 1861, he was ap-
pointed brigadier-general of volunteers, and
was placed in command of the Missouri
militia until November, 1862, and of the
army of the frontier from that time until
1863. In 1862 he was made major-general
of volunteers, and was placed in command of
the Department of the Missouri, and in 1864
of the Department of the Ohio. During the
campaign through Georgia General Scho-
field was in command of the Twenty-third
Army Corps, and was engaged in most of the
fighting of that famous campaign. Novem-
ber 30, 1S64, he defeated Hood's army at
Franklin, Tennessee, and then joined Gen-
eral Thomas at Nashville. He took part in
the battle of Nashville, where Hood's army
was destroyed. In January, 1865, he led
his corps into North Carolina, captured
Wilmington, fought the battle of Kingston,
and joined General Sherman at Goldsboro
March 22, 1865. He executed the details
of the capitulation of General Johnston to
Sherman, which practically closed the war.
In June, 1868, General Schofield suc-
ceeded Edwin M. Stanton as secretary of
war, but was the next year appointed major-
general of the United States army, and order-
ed to the Department of the Missouri. From
1870 to 1876 he was in command of the De-
partment of the Pacific; from 1876 to 1881
superintendent of the West Point Military
Academy; in 18S3 he was in charge of the
Department of the Missouri, and in 1886 of
the division of the Atlantic. In 1888 he
became general-in-chief of the United States
army, and in February, 1895, was appoint-
ed lieutenant-general by President Cleve-
land, that rank having been revived by con-
gress. In September, 1895, he was retired
from active service.
LEWIS WALLACE, an American gen-
eral and famous author, was born in
Brookville, Indiana, April 10, 1827. He
served in the Mexican war as first lieutenant
of a company of Indiana Volunteers. After
his return from Mexico he was admitted to
the bar, and practiced law in Covington and
Crawfordsville, Indiana, until 1S61. At the
opening of the war he was appointed ad-
jutant-general of Indiana, and soon after be-
came colonel of the Eleventh Indiana Vol-
unteers. He defeated a force of Confeder-
ates at Rotnney, West Virginia, and was
made brigadier-general in September, 1861.
At the capture of Fort Donelson in 1862 he
commanded a division, and was engaged in
the second day's fight at Shiloh. In 1863
his defenses about Cincinnati saved that city
from capture by Kirby Smith. At Monoc-
acv in July, 1864, he was defeated, but
200
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY.
his resistance delayed the advance of Gen-
eral Early and thus saved Washington from
capture.
General Wallace was a member of the
court that tried the assassins of President
Lincoln, and also of that before whom Cap-
tain Henry Wirtz, who had charge of the
Anderson ville prison, was tried. In iSSl
General Wallace was sent as minister to
Turkey. When not in official service he
devoted much of his time to literature.
Among his better known works are his
"Fair God," "Ben Hur," "Prince of
India," and a " Life of Benjamin Harrison."
THOMAS FRANCIS BAYARD, aaAmeri-
can statesman and diplomat, was born
at Wilmington, Delaware, October 29, 1828.
He obtained his education at an Episcopal
academy at Flushing, Long Island, and
after a short service in a mercantile house in
New York, he returned to Wilmington and
entered his father's law office to prepare
himself for the practice of that profession.
He was admitted to the bar in 1851. He
was appointed to the office of United States
district attorney for the state of Delaware,
serving one year. In 1869 he was elected to
the United States senate, and continuously
represented his state in that body until 1885,
and in 1881, when Chester A. Arthur entered
the presidential chair, Mr. Bayard was
chosen president pro tempore of the senate.
He had also served on the famous electoral
commission that decided the Hayes-Tilden
contest in 1 876-7. In 1 885 President Cleve-
land appointed Mr. Bayard secretary of
state. At the beginning of Cleveland's sec-
ond term, in 1893, Mr. Bayard was selected
for the post of ambassador at the court of
St. James, London, and was the first to hold
that rank in American diplomacy, serving
until the beginning of the McKinley admin-
istration. The questions for adjustment at
that time between the two governments
were the Behring Sea controversy and the
Venezuelan boundary question. He was
very popular in England because of his
tariff views, and because of his criticism of
the protective policy of the United States
in his public speeches delivered in London,
Edinburgh and other places, he received, in
March, 1896, a vote of censure in the lower
house of congress.
JOHN WORK GARRETT, for so many
years at the head of the great Baltimore
& Ohio railroad system, was born in Balti-
more, Maryland, July 31, 1820. His father,
Robert Garrett, an enterprising merchant,
had amassed a large fortune from a small
beginning. The son entered Lafayette Col-
lege in 1834, but left the following year and
entered his father's counting room, and in
1839 became a partner. John W. Gar-
rett took a great interest in the develop-
ment of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad. He
was elected one of the directors in 1857,
and was its president from 1858 until his
death. When he took charge of the road
it was in an embarrassed condition, but
within a year, for the first time in its exist-
ence, it paid a dividend, the increase in its
net gains being $725,385. After the war,
during which the road suffered much damage
from the Confederates, numerous branches
and connecting roads were built or acquired,
until it reached colossal proportions. Mr.
Garrett was also active in securing a regular
line of steamers between Baltimore and
Bremen, and between the same port and
Liverpool. He was one of the most active
trustees of Johns Hopkins University, and a
liberal contributor to the Young Men's
Christian Association of Baltimore. He
died September 26, 1884.
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY.
201
Robert Garrett, the son of John W.
Garrett, was born in Baltimore April 9,
1847, and graduated from Princeton in 1867.
He received a business education in the
banking house of his father, and in 1871
became president of the Valley Railroad of
Virginia. He was made third vice-presi-
dent of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad in
1S79, and first vice T president in 18S1. He
succeeded his father as president in 1884.
Robert Garrett died July 29, 1896.
CARL SCHURZ, a noted German-Ameri-
can statesman, was born in Liblar, Prus-
sia, March 2, 1S29. He studied at the Uni-
versity of Bonn, and in 1849 was engaged in
an attempt to excite an insurrection at that
place. After the surrender of Rastadt by
the revolutionists, in the defense of which
Schurz took part, he decided to emigrate to
America. He resided in Philadelphia three
years, and then settled in Watertown, Wis-
consin, and in 1859 removed to Milwaukee,
where he practiced law. On the organiza-
tion of the Republican party he became a
leader of the German element and entered
the campaign for Lincoln in 1S60. He was
appointed minister to Spain in 1861, but re-
signed in December of that year to enter
the army. He was appointed brigadier-
general in 1862, and participated in the
second battle of Bull Run, and also at
Chancellorsville. At Gettysburg he had
temporary command of the Eleventh Army
Corps, and also took part in the battle of
Chattanooga.
After the war he located at St. Louis,
and in 1869 was elected United States sena-
tor from Missouri. He supported Horace
Greeley for the presidency in 1872, and in
the campaign of 1876, having removed to
New York, he supported Hayes and the Re-
publican ticket, and was appointed secre-
tary of the interior in 1877. In 1881 he
became editor of the "New York Evening
Post," and in 1884 was prominent in his
opposition to James G. Blaine, and became
a leader of the "Mugwumps," thus assist-
ing in the election of Cleveland. In the
presidential campaign of 1S96 his forcible
speeches in the interest of sound money
wielded an immense influence. Mr. Schurz
wrote a "Life of Henry Clay," said to- be
the best biography ever published of that
eminent statesman.
GEORGE F. EDMUNDS, an American
statesman of national reputation, was
born in Richmond, Vermont, February 1,
1828. His education was obtained in the
public schools and from the instructions of
a private tutor. He was admitted to the
bar, practiced law, and served in the state
legislature from 1854 to 1859, during three
years of that time being speaker of the lower
house. He was elected to the state senate
and acted as president pro tempore of that
body in 1861 and 1S62. He became promi-
nent for his activity in the impeachment
proceedings against President Johnson, and
was appointed to the United States senate
to fill out the unexpired term of Solomon
Foot, entering that body in 1866. He was
re-elected to the senate four times, and
served on the electoral commission in 1877.
He became president pro tempore of the
senate after the death of President Garfield,
and was the author of the bill which put an
end to the practice of polygamy in the ter-
ritory of Utah. In November, 1891, owing
to impaired health, he retired from the sen-
ate and again resumed the practice of law.
LUCIUS Q. C. LAMAR, a prominent
political leader, statesman and jurist,
was born in Putnam county, Georgia, Sep-
202
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY.
temberi7, 1825. He graduated from Emory
College in 1845, studied law at Macon under
Hon. A. H. Chappell, and was admitted to
the bar in 1847. He moved to Oxford,
Mississippi, in 1849, and was elected to a
professorship in the State University. He
resigned the next year and returned to Cov-
ington, Georgia, and resumed the practice
of law. In 1853 he was elected to the
Georgia Legislature, and in 1854 he removed
to his plantation in Lafayette county, Mis-
sissippi, and was elected to represent his
district in the thirty-fifth and thirty-sixth
congresses. He resigned in i860, and was
sent as a delegate to the secession conven-
tion of the state. He entered the Confed-
erate service in 1861 as lieutenant-colonel
of the Nineteenth Regiment, and was soon
after made colonel. In 1863 President
Davis appointed him to an important diplo-
matic mission to Russia. In 1866 he was
elected professor of political economy and
social science in the State University, and
was soon afterward transferred to the pro-
fessorship of the law department. He rep-
resented his district in the forty-third and
forty-fourth congresses, and was elected
United States senator from Mississippi in
1877, and re-elected in 1882. In 1885, be-
fore the expiration of his term, he was
appointed by President Cleveland as secre-
tary of the interior, which position he held
until his appointment as associate justice of
the United States supreme court, in 1S88,
in which capacity he served until his death,
January 23, 1894.
BENJAMIN PENHALLOW SHILLA-
BER won fame in the world of
humorists under the name of "Mrs. Parting-
ton. " He was born in 1S41 at Portsmouth,
New Hampshire, and started out in life as a
printer. Mr. Shillaber went to Dover,
where he secured employment in a printing
office, and from there he went to Demerara,
Guiana, where he was employed as a com-
positor in 1835-37. 1° 1840 he became
connected with the "Boston Post," and
acquired quite a reputation as a humorist
by his "Sayings of Mrs. Partington." He
remained as editor of the paper until 1850,
when he printed and edited a paper of his
own called the "Pathfinder," which he con-
tinued until 1852. Mr. Shillaber be-
came editor and proprietor of the "Carpet
Bag," which he conducted during 1850-52,
and then returned to the "Boston Post,"
with which he was connected until 1856.
During the same time he was one of the
editors of the "Saturday Evening Gazette,"
and continued in this line after he severed
his connection with the "Post," for ten
years. After 1S66 Mr. Shillaber wrote for
various newspapers and periodicals, and
during his life published the following
books: ' 'Rhymes with Reason and Without, "
"Poems," "Life and Sayings of Mrs. Part-
ington," "Knitting Work," and others.
His death occurred at Chelsea, Massachu-
setts, November 25, 1890.
EASTMAN JOHNSON stands first among
painters of American country life. He
was born in Lovell, Maine, in 1824, and be-
gan his work in drawing at the age of eight-
een years. His first works were portraits,
and, as he took up his residence in Wash-
ington, the most famous men of the nation
were his subjects. In 1846 he went to Bos-
ton, and there made crayon portraits of
Longfellow, Emerson, Sumner, Hawthorne
and other noted men. In 1849 he went to
Europe. He studied at Dusseldorf, Ger-
many; spent a year at the Royal Academy,
and thence to The Hague, where he spent
four years, producing there his first pictures
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY.
203
of consequence, "The Card-Players " and
"The Savoyard." He then went to Paris,
but was called home, after an absence from
America of six years. He lived some time
in Washington, and then spent two years
among the Indians of Lake Superior. In
1858 he produced his famous picture, "The
Old Kentucky Home." He took up his
permanent residence at New York at that
time. His " Sunday Morning in Virginia "
is a work of equal merit. He was espe-
cially successful in coloring, a master of
drawing, and the expression conveys with
precision the thought of the artist. His
portrayal of family life and child life is un-
equalled. Among his other great works are
"The Confab," "Crossing a Stream,'
"Chimney Sweep," "Old Stage Coach,"
" The New Bonnet," " The Drummer Boy,"
"Childhood of Lincoln," and a great vari-
ety of equally familiar subjects.
PIERCE GUSTAVE TOUTANT BEAU-
REGARD, one of the most distin-
guished generals in the Confederate army,
was born near New Orleans, Louisiana,
May 28, 1 8 1 8. He graduated from West
Point Military Academy in 1838, and was
made second lieutenant of engineers. He
was with General Scott in Mexico, and dis-
tinguished himself at Vera Cruz, Cerro
Gordo, and the battles near the City of
Mexico, for which he was twice brevetted.
After the Mexican war closed he was placed
in charge of defenses about New Orleans,
and in i860 was appointed superintendent
of the United States Military Academy at
West Point. He held this position but a
few months, when he resigned February 20,
1 86 1, and accepted a commission of briga-
dier-general in the Confederate army. He
directed the attack on Fort Sumter, the
first engagement of the Civil war. He was
12
in command of the Confederates at the first
battle of Bull Run, and for this victory was
made general. In 1862 he was placed in
command of the Army of the Mississippi,
and planned the attack upon General Grant
at Shiloh, and upon the death of General
Johnston he took command of the army
and was only defeated by the timely arrival
of General Buell with reinforcements. He
commanded at Charleston and successfully
defended that city against the combined at-
tack by land and sea in 1863. In 1864 he
was in command in Virginia, defeating Gen-
eral Butler, and resisting Grant's attack
upon Petersburg until reinforced from Rich-
mond. During the long siege which fol-
lowed he was sent to check General Sher-
man's march to the sea, and was with Gen-
eral Joseph E. Johnston when that general
surrendered in 1865. After the close of the
war he was largely interested in railroad
management. In 1866 he was offered chief
command of the Army of Roumania, and in
1869, that of the Army of Egypt. He de-
clined these offers. His death occurred
February 20, 1893.
HENRY GEORGE, one of America's
most celebrated political economists,
was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania,
September 2, 1839. He received a common-
school education and entered the high
school in 1853, and then went into a mer-
cantile office. He made several voyages on
the sea, and settled in California in 1858.
He then worked at the printer's trade for a
number of years, which he left to follow the
editorial profession. He edited in succession
several daily newspapers, and attracted at-
tention by a number of strong essays and
speeches on political and social questions.
In 1 Sy 1 he edited a pamphlet, entitled ' ' Our
Land and Policy, " in which he outlined a.
204
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY.
theory, which has since made him so widely
known. This was developed in " Progress
and Poverty," a book which soon attained a
large circulation on both sides of the Atlan-
tic, which has been extensively translated.
In 1880 Mr. George located in New York,
where he made his home, though he fre-
quently addressed audiences in Great Britain,
Ireland, Australia, and throughout the
United States. In 1886 he was nominated
by the labor organizations for mayor of New
York, and made a campaign notable for its
development of unexpected power. In 18S7 he
was candidate of the Union Labor party for
secretary of state of New York. These cam-
paigns served to formulate the idea of a single
tax and popularize the Australian ballot sys-
tem. Mr. George became a free trader in
1 888, and in 1892 supported the election of
Grover Cleveland. His political and eco-
nomic ideas, known as the "single tax,"
have a large and growing support, but are
not confined to this country alone. He
wrote numerous miscellaneous articles in
support of his principles, and also published:
"The Land Question," "Social Problems,"
"Protection or Free Trade," "The Condi-
tion of Labor, an Open Letter to Pope Leo
XIII.," and " Perplexed Philosopher."
THOMAS ALEXANDER SCOTT. —This
name is indissolubly connected with
the history and development of the railway
systems of the United States. Mr. Scott
was born December 28, 1823, at London,
Franklin county, Pennsylvania. He was first
regularly employed by Major James Patton,
the collector of tolls on the state road be-
tween Philadelphia and Columbia, Penn-
sylvania. He entered into the employ of
the Pennsylvania Railroad Company in 1850,
and went through all the different branches
of work until he had mastered all the details
of the office work, and in 1858 he was ap-
pointed general superintendent. Mr. Scott
was the next year chosen vice-president of
the road. This position at once brought
him before the public, and the enterprise
and ability displayed by him in its manage-
ment marked him as a leader among the
railroad men of the country. At the out-
break of the rebellion in 1S61, Mr. Scott
was selected by Governor Curtin as a mem-
ber of his staff, and placed in charge of the
equipment and forwarding of the state troops
to the seat of war. On April 27, 1861, the
secretary of war desired to establish a new
line of road between the national capital
and Philadelphia, for the more expeditious
transportation of troops. He called upon
Mr. Scott to direct this work, and the road
by the way of Annapolis and Perry ville was
completed in a marvelously short space of
time. On May 3, 1861, he was commis-
sioned colonel of volunteers, and on the 23d
of the same month the government railroads
and telegraph lines were placed in his charge.
Mr. Scott was the first assistant secretary
of war ever appointed, and he took charge
of this new post August 1, 1861. In Janu-
ary, 1862, he was directed to organize
transportation in the northwest, and in
March he performed the same service on
the western rivers. He resigned June 1,
1862, and resumed his direction of affairs on
the Pennsylvania Railroad. Colonel Scott
directed the policy that secured to his road
the control of the western roads, and be-
came the president of the new company to
operate these lines in 1871. For one year,
from March, 1S71, he was president of the
Union Pacific Railroad, and in 1874 he suc-
ceeded to the presidency of the Pennsyl-
vania Company. He projected the Texas
Pacific Railroad and was for many years its
president. Colonel Scott's health failed
COMPEND1 1 \M OF BIOGRA PHT.
205
him and he resigned the presidency of the
road June I, 1880, and died at his home in
D.irby, Pennsylvania, May 21, 1881.
ROBERT TOOMBS, an American states-
man of note, was born in Wilkes coun-
ty, Georgia, July 2, 1810. He attended
the University of Georgia, and graduated
from Union College, Scherrectady, New
York, and then took a law course at the
University of Virginia. In 1830, before he
had attained his majority, he was admitted
to the bar by special act of the legislature,
and rose rapidly in his profession, attracting
the attention of the leading statesmen and
judges of that time. He raised a volunteer
company for the Creek war, and served as
captain to the close. He was elected to the
state legislature in 1837, re-elected in 1842,
and in 1844 was elected to congress. He
had been brought up as a Jeffersonian
Democrat, but voted for Harrison in 1840
and for Clay in 1844. He made his first
speech in congress on the Oregon question,
and immediately took rank with the greatest
debaters of that body. In 1853 he was
ekcted to the United States senate, and
again in 1859, but when his native state
seceded he resigned his seat in the senate
and was elected to the Confederate con-
gress. It is stated on the best authority
that had it not been for a misunderstanding
which could not be explained till too late he
would have been elected president of the
Confederacy. He was appointed secretary
of state by President Davis, but resigned
after a few months and was commissioned
brigadier-general in the Confederate army.
He won distinction at the second battle of
Bull Run and at Sharpsburg, but resigned
his commission soon after and returned to
Georgia. He organized the militia of
Georgia to resist Sherman, and was made
brigadier-general of the state troops. He
left the country at the close of the war and
did not return until 1S67. He died Decem-
ber 1 5, 1885.
AUSTIN CORBIN, one of the greatest
railway magnates of the United States,
was born July 1 1 , 1S27, at Newport, New
Hampshire. He studied law with Chief
Justice Cushing and Governor Ralph Met-
calf, and later took a course in the Harvard
Law School, where he graduated in 1849.
He was admitted to the bar, and practiced
law, with Governor Metcalf as his partner,
until October 12, 185 1. Mr. Corbin then
removed to Davenport, Iowa, where he re-
mained until 1865. In 1854 he was a part-
ner in the banking firm of Macklot & Cor-
bin, and later he organized the First Na-
tional bank of Davenport, Iowa, which
commenced business June 29, 1S63, and
which was the first national bank op n for
business in the United States. Mr. Corbin
sold out his business in the Davenport bank,
and removed to New York in 1865 and com-
menced business with partners under the
style of Corbin Banking Company. Soon
after his removal to New York hj became
interested in railroads, and became one of
the leading railroad men of the country.
The development of the west half of Coney
Island as a summer resort first brought him
into general prominence. He built a rail-
road from New York to the island, and
built great hotels on its ocean front. He
next turned his attention to Long Island,
and secured all the railroads and consoli-
dated them under one management, became
president of the system, and under hi.i con-
trol Long Island became the great ocean
suburb of New York. His latest public
achievement was the rehabilitation of the
Reading Railroad, of Pennsylvania, and
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY.
during the same time he and his friends
purchased the controlling interest of the
New Jersey Central Railroad. He took it
out of the hands of the receiver, and in
three years had it on a dividend-paying
basis. Mr. Corbin's death occurred June
4, 1896.
TAMES GORDON BENNETT, Sr.,
J was one of the greatest journalists of
America in his day. He was born Septem-
ber 1, 1795, at New Mill, near Keith, Scot-
land. At the age of fourteen he was sent
to Aberdeen to study for the priesthood,
but, convinced that he was mistaken in his
vocation, he determined to emigrate. He
landed at Halifax, Nova Scotia, in 18 19,
where he attempted to earn a living by
teaching bookkeeping. Failing in this he
went to Boston and found employment as a
proof reader. Mr. Bennett went to New
York about 1822 and wrote for the news-
papers. Later on he became assistant
editor in the office of the "Charleston
Courier, "but returned to New York in 1824
and endeavored to start a commercial
school, but was unsuccessful in this, and
again returned to newspaper work. He
continued in newspaper work with varying
success until, it his suggestion, the "En-
quirer" was consolidated with another
paper, and became the "Courier and En-
quirer," with James Watson Webb as
editor and Mr. Bennett for assistant. At
this time this was the leading American
newspaper. He, however, severed his con-
nection with this newspaper and tried,
without success, other ventures in the line
of journalism until May 6, 1835, when he
issued the first number of the "New York
Herald." Mr. Bennett wrote the entire
paper, and made up for lack of news by his
own imagination. The paper became popu-
lar, and in 1838 he engaged European jour-
nalists as regular correspondents. In 1841
the income derived from his paper was at
least one hundred thousand dollars. Dur-
ing the Civil war the " Herald " had on its
staff sixty-three war correspondents and the
circulation was doubled. Mr. Bennett was
interested with John W. Mackay in that great
enterprise which is' now known as the Mac-
kay-Bennett Cable. He had collected for use
in his paper over fifty thousand biographies,
sketches and all manner of information re-
garding every well-known man, which are
still kept in the archives of the "Herald"
office. He died in the city of New York in
1872, and left to his son, James Gordon,
Jr., one of the greatest and most profitable
journals in the United States, or even in the
world.
OLIVER WENDELL HOLMES, a
noted American, won distinction in the
field of literature, in which he attained a
world-wide reputation. He was born at
Cambridge, Massachusetts, August 29, 1809.
He received a collegiate education and grad-
uated from Harvard in 1829, at the age of
twenty, and took up the study of law and
later studied medicine. Dr. Holmes at-
tended several years in the hospitals of
Europe and received his degree in 1836.
He became professor of anatomy and phys-
iology in Dartmouth in 1838, and re-
mained there until 1847, when he was
called to the Massachusetts Medical School
at Boston to occupy the same chair, which
position he resigned in 1882. The first
collected edition of his poems appeared in
1836, and his "Phi Beta Kappa Poems,"
"Poetry," in 1836; "Terpsichore," in 1843;
"Urania," in 1S46, and "Astraea," won for
him many fresh laurels. His series of
papers in the "Atlantic Monthly." were:
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY
207
"Autocrat of the Breakfast Table," "Pro-
fessor at the Breakfast Table," "Poet at
the Breakfast Table," and are a series of
masterly wit, humor and pathos. Among
his medical papers and addresses, are: "Cur-
rents and Counter-currents in the Medical
Science," and "Borderland in Some Prov-
inces of Medical Science." Mr. Holmes
edited quite a number of works, of which
we quote the following: "Else Venner,"
"Songs in Many Keys," "Soundings from
ihe Atlantic," "Humorous Poems," "The
Guardian Angel," "Mechanism in Thoughts
and Morals," "Songs of Many Seasons,"
"John L. Motley" — a memoir, "The Iron
Gate and Other Poems," "Ralph Waldo
Emerson," "A Moral Antipathy." Dr.
Holmes visited England for the second time,
and while there the degree of LL. D.
was conferred upon him by the University
of Edinburgh. His death occurred October
7- 1394-
RUFUS CHOATE, one of the most em-
inent of America's great lawyers, was
born October 1, 1799, at Essex, Massachu-
setts. He entered Dartmouth in 18 15,
and after taking his degree he remained as
a teacher in the college for one year. He
took up the study of law in Cambridge, and
subsequently studied under the distinguished
lawyer, Mr. Wirt, who was then United
States attorney-general at Washington. Mr.
Choatcbegan the practice of law in Danvers,
Massachusetts, and from there he went to
Salem, and afterwards to Boston, Massa-
chusetts. While living at Salem he was
elected to congress in 1832, and later, in
1 841, he was chosen United States senator
to succeed Daniel Webster, Mr. Webster
having been appointed secretary of state
under William Henry Harrison.
After the death of Webster, Mr. Choate
was the acknowledged leader of the Massa-
chusetts bar, and was looked upon by the
younger members of the profession with an
affection that almost amounted to a rever-
ence. Mr. Choate's powers as an orator
were of the rarest order, and his genius
made it possible for him to enchant and in-
terest his listeners, even while discussing the
most ordinary theme. He was not merely
eloquent on the subjects that were calculated
to touch the feelings and stir the passions
of his audience in themselves, but could at
all times command their attention. He re-
tired from active life in 1858, and was on
his way to Europe, his physician having
ordered a sea voyage for his health, but had
only reached Halifax, Nova Scotia, when
he died, July 13, 1858.
D WIGHT L. MOODY, one of the most
noted and effective pulpit orators and
evangelists America has produced, was born
in Northfield, Franklin county, Massachu-
setts, February 5, 1837. He received but
a meager education and worked on a farm
until seventeen years of age, when he be-
came clerk in a boot and shoe store in
Boston. Soon after this he joined the Con-
gregational church and went to Chicago,
where he zealously engaged in missionary
work among the poor classes. He met
with great success, and in less than a year
he built up a Sunday-school which numbered
over one thousand children. When the
war broke out he became connected with
what was known as the "Christian Com-
mission," and later became city missionary
of the Young Men's Christian Association at
Chicago. A church was built there for his
converts and he became its unordained pas-
tor. In the Chicago fire of 1871 the church
and Mr. Moody's house and furniture, which
had been given him, were destroyed. The
208
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHT.
church edifice was afterward replaced by a
new church erected on the site of the old
one. In 1873, accompanied by Ira D.
Sankey, Mr. Moody went to Europe and
excited great religious awakenings through-
out England, Ireland and Scotland. In
1S75 they returned to America and held
large meetings in various cities. They
afterward made another visit to Great
Britain for the same purpose, meeting with
great success, returning to the United States
in 1 884. Mr. Moody afterward continued
his evangelistic work, meeting everywhere
with a warm reception and success. Mr.
Moody produced a number of works, some
of which had a wide circulation.
JOHN PIERPOKT MORGAN, a financier
of world-wide reputation, and famous
as the head of one of the largest banking
houses in the world, was born April 17,
1837, at Hartford, Connecticut. He re-
ceived his early education in the English
high school, in Boston, and later supple-
mented this with a course in the University
of Gottingen, Germany. He returned to
the United States, in 1857, and entered the
banking firm of Duncan, Sherman & Co.,
of New York, and, in i860, he became
agent and attorney, in the United States, for
George Peabody & Co., of London. He
became the junior partner in the banking
firm of Dabney, Morgan. & Co., in 1864,
and that of Drexel, Morgan & Co., in 1871.
This house was among the chief negotiators
of railroad bonds, and was active in the re-
organization of the West Shore Railroad,
and its absorption by the New York Central
Railroad. It was conspicuous in the re-
organization of the Philadelphia & Read-
ing Railroad, in 1S87, which a syndicate of
capitalists, formed by Mr. Morgan, placed
on a sound financial basis. After that time
many other lines of railroad and gigantic
financial enterprises were brought under Mr.
Morgan's control, and in some respects it
may be said he became the foremost financier
of the century.
THOMAS BRACKETT REED, one of
the most eminent of American states-
men, was born October 18, 1839, at Port-
land, Maine, where he received his early
education in the common schools of the
city, and prepared himself for college. Mr.
Reed graduated from Bowdoin College in
1860, and won one of the highest honors of
the college, the prize for excellence in Eng-
lish composition. The following four years
were spent by him in teaching and in the
study of law. Before his admission to the
bar, however, he was acting assistant pay-
master in the United States navy, and
served on the " tin-clad" Sybil, which pa-
trolled the Tennessee, Cumberland and
Mississippi rivers. After his discharge in
1865, he returned to Portland, was admit-
ted to the bar, and began the practice of his
profession. He entered into political life,
and in 1 86S was elected to the legislature
of Maine as a Republican, and in 1869 he
was re-elected to the house, and in 1870
was made state senator, from which he
passed to attorney-general of the state.
He retired from this office in 1873, and
until 1877 he was solicitor for the city
of Portland. In 1876 he was elected to
the forty-fifth congress, which assembled
in 1877. Mr. Reed sprung into prominence
in that body by one of the first speeches
which he delivered, and his long service in
congress, coupled with his ability, gave l.im
a national reputation. His influence each
year became more strongly marked, and the
leadership of his party was finally conceded
to him, and in the forty-ninth and fiftieth
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHr.
200
congresses the complimentary nomination
for the speakership was tendered him by the
Republicans. That party having obtained
the ascendency in the fifty-first congress he
was elected speaker on the first ballot, and
he was again chosen speaker of the fifty-
fourth and fifth-fifth congresses. As a
writer, Mr. Reed contributed largely to the
magazines and periodicals, and his book
upon parliamentary rules is generally rec-
ognized as authority on that subject.
rated with the golden cross by the grand
duke of Baden, and with the iron cross by
the emperor of Germany. She also served
for many years as president of the famous
Red Cross Society and attained a world-
wide reputation.
r^ LARA BARTON is a celebrated char-
V> acter among what might be termed as
the highest grade of philanthropists Amer-
ica has produced. She was born on a farm
at Oxford, Massachusetts, a daughter of
Captain Stephen Barton, and was educated
at Clinton, New York. She engaged in
teaching early in life, and founded a free
school at Bordentown, the first in New Jer-
sey. She opened with six pupils, but the
attendance had grown to six hundred up to
1854, when she went to Washington. She
was appointed clerk in the patent depart-
ment, and remained there until the out-
break of the Civil war, when she resigned
her position and devoted herself to the al-
leviation of the sufferings of the soldiers,
serving, not in the hospitals, but on the bat-
tle field. She was present at a number of
battles, and after the war closed she origi-
nated, and for some time carried on at her
own expense, the search for missing soldiers.
She then for several years devoted her time
to lecturing on "Incidents of the War."
About 1868 she went to Europe for her
health, and settled in Switzerland, but on the
outbreak of the Franco-German war she ac-
cepted the invitation of the grand duchess
of Baden to aid in the establishment of her
hospitals, and Miss Barton afterward fol-
lowed the German army She was deco-
CARDINAL JAMES GIBBONS, one of
the most eminent Catholic clergymen
in America, was born in Baltimore, Mary-
land, July 23, 1834. He was given a
thorough education, graduated at St. Charles.
College, Maryland, in 1857. and studied
theology in St. Mary's Seminary, Baltimore,
Maryland. In 1861 he became pastor of
St. Bridget's church in Baltimore, and in
1868 was consecrated vicar apostolic of
North Carolina. In 1872 our subject be-
came bishop of Richmond, Virginia, and
five years later was made archbishop of Bal-
timore. On the 30th of June, 1886, he
was admitted to the full degree of cardinal
and primate of the American Catholic
church. He was a fluent writer, and his
book, "Faith of Our Fathers," had a wide
circulation.
/^HAUNCEY MITCHELL DEPEW.—
V-> This name is, without doubt, one of
the most widely known in the United States.
Mr. Depew was born April 23, 1834, at
Peekskill, New York, the home of the Depew
family for two hundred years. He attended
the common schools of his native place,
where he prepared himself to enter college.'
He began his collegiate course at Yale at
the age of eighteen and graduated in 1856.
He early took an active interest in politics
and joined the Republican party at its for-
mation. He then took up the study of law
and went into the office of the Hon. Will-
iam Nelson, of Peekskill, for that purpose,
and in 1858 he was admitted to the bar.
210
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY.
He was sent as a delegate by the new party
to the Republican state convention of that
year. He began the practice of his profes-
sion in 1.859, but though he was a good
worker, his attention was detracted by the
campaign of i860, in which he took an act-
ive part. During this campaign he gained
his first laurels as a public speaker. Mr.
Depew was elected assemblyman in 1862
from a Democratic district. In 1863 he se-
cured the nomination for secretary of state,
and gained that post by a majority of thirty
thousand. In 1866 he left the field of pol-
itics and entered into the active practice
-of his law business as attorney for the
New York & Harlem Railroad Company,
and in 1869 when this road was consoli-
dated with the New York Central, and
called the New York Central & Hudson
River Railroad, he was appointed the attor-
ney for the new road. His rise in the rail-
road business was rapid, and ten years after
his entrance into the Vanderbilt system as
attorney for a single line, he was the gen-
eral counsel for one of the largest railroad
systems in the world. He was also a
director in the Lake Shore & Michigan
Southern, Michigan Central, Chicago &
Northwestern, St. Paul & Omaha, West
Shore, and Nickel Plate railroad companies.
In 1874 Mr. Depew was made regent of
the State University, and a member of the
■commission appointed to superintend the
•erection of the capitol at Albany. In 1882,
■on the resignation of W. H. Vanderbilt
from the presidency of the New York Cen-
tral and the accession to that office by
James H. Rutter, Mr. Depew was made
^second vice-president, and held that posi-
tion until the death of Mr. Rutter in 1885.
In this year Mr. Depew became the execu-
tive head of this great corporation. Mr.
uDepew's greatest fame grew from his ability
and eloquence as an orator and " after-din-
ner speaker," and it has been said by emi-
nent critics that this country has never pro-
duced his equal in wit, fluency and eloquence.
PHILIP KEARNEY.— Among the most
dashing and brilliant commanders in
the United States service, few have outshone
the talented officer whose name heads this
sketch. He was born in New York City,
June 2, 1815, and was of Irish ancestry and
imbued with all the dash and bravery of the
Celtic race. He graduated from Columbia
College and studied law, but in 1837 ac-
cepted a commission as lieutenant in the
First United States Dragoons, of which his
uncle, Stephen W. Kearney, was then colo-
nel. He was sent by the government,
soon after, to Europe to examine and report
upon the tactics of the French cavalry.
There he attended the Polytechnic School,
at Samur, and subsequently served as a vol-
unteer in Algiers, winning the cross of the
Legion of Honor. He returned to the
United States in 1840, and on the staff of
General Scott, in the Mexican war, served
with great gallantry. He was made a cap-
tain of dragoons in 1846 and made major
for services at Contreras and Cherubusco.
In the final assault on the City of Mexico
at the San Antonio Gate, Kearney lost an
arm. He subsequently served in California
and the Pacific coast. In 185 1 he resigned
his commission and went to Europe, where
he resumed his military studies. In the
Italian war, in 1859, he served as a volun-
teer on the staff of General Maurier, of the
French army, and took part in the battles
of Solferino and Magenta, and for bravery
was, for the second time, decorated with
the cross of the Legion of Honor. On the
opening of the Civil war he hastened home,
and, offering his services to the general gov-
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY.
211
eminent, was made brigadier-general of
volunteers and placed in command of a bri-
gade of New Jersey troops. In the cam-
paign under McClellan he commanded a di-
vision, and at Williamsburg and Fair Oaks
his services were valuable and brilliant, as
well as in subsequent engagements. At
Harrison's Landing he was made major-gen-
eral of volunteers. In the second battle of
Bull Run he was conspicuous, and at the
battle of Chantilly, September I, 1862,
while leading in advance of his troops, Gen-
eral Kearney was shot and killed.
RUSSELL SAGE, one of the financial
giants of the present century and for
more than an average generation one of the
most conspicuous and celebrated of Ameri-
cans, was born in a frontier hamlet in cen-
tral New York in August, 1816. While Rus-
sell was still a boy an elder brother, Henry
Risley Sage, established a small grocery
store at Troy, New York, and here Russell
found his first employment, as errand boy.
He served a five-years apprenticeship, and
then joined another brother, Elisha M. Sage,
in a new venture in the same line, which
proved profitable, at least for Russell, who
soon became its sole owner. Next he
formed the partnership of Sage & Bates,
and greatly extended his field of operations.
At twenty-five he had, by his own exertions,
amassed what was, in those days, a consid-
erable fortune, being worth about seventy-
five thousand dollars. He had acquired an
influence in local politics, and four years
later his party, the Whigs, elected him to
the aldermanic board of Troy and to the
treasuryship of Rensselaer county. In 1848
he was a prominent member of the New
York delegation to the Whig convention at
Philadelphia, casting his first votes for Henry
Clay, but joining the "stampede" which
nominated Zachary Taylor. In 1850 the
Whigs oi Troy nominated him for congress,
but he was not elected— a failure which he
retrieved two years later, and in 1854 he
was re-elected by a sweeping majority. At
Washington he ranked high in influence and
ability. Fame as a speaker and as a polit-
ical leader was within his grasp, when he
gave up public life, declined a renomination
to congress, and went back to Troy to de-
vote himself to his private business. Six
years later, in 1863, he removed to New
York and plunged into the arena of Wall
street. A man of boundless energy and
tireless pertinacity, with wonderful judg-
ment of men and things, he soon took his
place as a king in finance, and, it is said,
during the latter part of his life he con-
trolled more ready money than any other
single individual on this continent.
ROGER QUARLES MILLS, a noted
United States senator and famous as the
father of the "Mills tariff bill, "was born
in Todd county, Kentucky, March 30, 1832.
He received a liberal education in the com-
mon schools, and removed to Palestine,
Texas, in 1849. He took up the study of
law, and supported himself by serving as an
assistant in the post-office, and in the offices
of the court clerks. In 1850 he was elected
engrossing clerk of the Texas house of rep-
resentatives, and in 1852 was admitted to
the bar, while still a minor, by special act
of the legislature. He then settled at Cor-
sicana, Texas, and began the active prac-
tice of his profession. He was elected to
the state legislature in 1859, and in 1872 he
was elected to congress from the state at
large, as a Democrat. After his first elec-
tion he was continuously returned to con-
gress until he resigned to accept the posi-
tion of United States senator, to which he
212
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY
was elected March 23, 1892, to succeed
Hon. Horace Chilton. He took his seat in
the senate March 30, 1892; was afterward
re-elected and ranked among the most use-
ful and prominent members of that body.
In 1S76 he opposed the creation of the elec-
toral commission, and in 1887 canvassed
the state of Texas against the adoption of
a prohibition amendment to its constitution,
which was defeated. He introduced into
the house of representatives the bill that was
known as the "Mills Bill," reducing duties
on imports, and extending the free list.
The bill passed the house on July 21, 1888,
and made the name of "Mills" famous
throughout the entire country.
HAZEN S. PINGREE, the celebrated
Michigan political leader, was born in
Maine in 1842. Up to fourteen years of
age he worked hard on the stony ground of
his father's small farm. Attending school
in the winter, he gained a fair education,
and when not laboring on the farm, he
found employment in the cotton mills in the
vicinity. He resolved to find more steady
work, and accordingly went to Hopkinton,
Massachusetts, where he entered a shoe fac-
tory, but on the outbreak of the war he en-
listed at once and was enrolled in the First
Massachusetts Heavy Artillery. He partici-
pated in the battle of Bull Run, which was
his initial fight, and served creditably his
enrly term of service, at the expiration of
which he re-enlisted. He fought in the
battles of Fredricksburg, Harris Farm,
Spottsylvania Court House and Cold Har-
bor. In 1864 he was captured by Mosby,
and spent five months at Andersonville,
Georgia, as a prisoner, but escaped at the
end of that time. He re-entered the service
and participated in the battles of Fort
Fisher, Boyden, and Sailor's Creek. He
was honorably mustered out of service, and
in 1866 went to Detroit, Michigan, where
he made use of his former experience in a
shoe factory, and found work. Later he
formed a partnership with another workman
and started a small factor)', which has since
become a large establishment. Mr. Pin-
gree made his entrance into politics in 1889,
in which year he was elected by a surpris-
ingly large majority as a Republican to the
mayoralty of Detroit, in which office he was
the incumbent during four consecutive terms.
In November, 1S96, he was elected gov-
ernor of the state of Michigan. While
mayor of Detroit, Mr. Pingree originated
and put into execution the idea of allowing
the poor people of the city the use of va-
cant city lands and lots for the purpose of
raising potatoes. The idea was enthusiast-
ically adopted by thousands of poor families,
attracted wide attention, and gave its author
a national reputation as "Potato-patch Pin-
gree."
THOMAS ANDREW HENDRICKS, an
eminent American statesman and a
Democratic politician of national fame, was
born in Muskingum county, Ohio, Septem-
ber 7, 1 8 19. In 1822 he removed, with his
father, to Shelby county, . Indiana. He
graduated from the South Hanover College
in 1841, and two years later was admitted
to the bar. In 1851 he was chosen a mem-
ber of the state constitutional convention,
and took a leading part in the deliberations
of that body. He was elected to congress
in 1 85 1, and after serving two terms was
appointed commissioner of the United States
general land-office. In 1863 he was elected
to the United States senate, where his dis-
tinguished services commanded the respect
of all parties. He was elected governor of
Indiana in 1872, serving four years, and in
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHV.
213
1876 was nominated by the Democrats as
candidate for the vice-presidency with Til-
den. The returns in a number of states
were contested, and resulted in the appoint-
ment of the famous electoral commission,
which decided in favor of the Republican
candidates. In 1884 Mr. Hendricks was
again nominated as candidate for the vice-
presidency, by the Democratic party, on the
ticket with Grover Cleveland, was elected,
and served about six months. He died at
Indianapolis, November 25, 1885. He was
regarded as one of the brainiest men in the
party, and his integrity was never ques-
tioned, even by his political opponents.
GARRETT A. HOBART, one of the
many able men who have held the
high office of vice-president of the United
States, was born June 3, 1844, in Mon-
mouth county, New jersey, and in i860 en-
tered the sophomore class at Rutgers Col-
lege, from which he graduated in 1863 at
the age of nineteen. He then taught
school until he entered the law office of
Socrates Tuttle, of Paterson, New Jersey,
with whom he studied law. and in 1869
was admitted to the bar. He immediately
began the active practice of his profession
i 1 the office of the above named gentleman.
He became interested in political life, and
espoused t e cause of the Republican party,
and in 1865 held his first office, serving as
clerk for the grind jury. He was also city
counsel of Paterson in 1871, and in May,
1872, was elected counsel for the board of
chosen freeholders. He entered the state
legislature in 1873, and was re-elected to
the assembly in 1874. Mr. Hobart was
made speaker of the assembly in 1876, and
and in 1879 was elected to the state senate.
After serving three years in the same, lie
was elected president of that body in 1SS1,
and the following year was re-slected to
that office. He was a delegate-at large to
the Republican national convention hi 1876
and 1880, and was elected a member of the
national committee in 1884, which pos'tion
he occupied continuously until 1896. He
was then nominated for vice-president by
the Republican national convention, am'
was elected to that office in the fall of 1896
on the ticket with William McKinley.
WILLIAM MORRIS STEWART, noted
as a political leader and senator, was
born in Lyons, Wayne county, New York,
August 9, 1S27, and removed with his par-
ents while still a small child to Mesopota-
mia township, Trumbull county, Ohio. He
attended the Lyons Union school and Farm-
ington Academy, where he obtained his ed-
ucation. Later he taught mathematics in
the former school, while yet a pupil, and
with the little money thus earned and the
assistance of James C. Smith, one of the
judges of the supreme court of New York,
he entered Yale College. He remained
there until the winter of 1849-50, when, at-
tracted by the gold discoveries in California
he wended his way thither. He arrived at
San Francisco in May, 1850, and later en-
gaged in mining with pick and shovel in Ne-
vada county. In this way he accumulated
some money, and in the spring of 1852 he
took up the study of law under John R.
McConnell. The following December he
was appointed district attorney, to which
office he was chosen at tha general election
of the next year. In 1854 he was ap-
pointed attorney-general of California, and
in 1S60 he removed to Virginia City, Ne-
vada, where he largely engaged in early
mining litigation. Mr. Stewart was also in-
terested in the development of the "Corn-
stock lode," and in 1S61 was chosen a
214
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY.
member of the territorial council. He was
elected a member of the constitutional con-
vention in 1863, and was elected United
States senator in 1864, and re-elected in
1869. At the expiration of his term in
1875, he resumed the practice of law in
Nevada, California, and the Pacific coast
generally. He was thus engaged when he
was elected again to the United States sen-
ate as a Republican in 1887 to succeed the
late James G. Fair, a Democrat, and took
his seat March 4, 1887. On the expiration
of his term he was again re-elected and be-
came one of the leaders of his party in con-
gress. His ability as an orator, and the
prominent part he took in the discussion of
public questions, gained him a national rep-
utation.
GEORGE GRAHAM VEST, for many
years a prominent member of the
United States senate, was born in Frank-
fort, Kentucky, December 6, 1848. He
graduated from Center College in 1868, and
from the law department of the Transyl-
vania University of Lexington, Kentucky,
in 1853. In the same year he removed to
Missouri and began the practice of his pro-
fession. In 1 860 he was an elector on the
Democratic ticket, and was a member of
the lower house of the Missouri legislature
in 1860-61. He was elected to the Con-
federate congress, serving two years in the
lower house and one in the senate. He
then resumed the practice of law, and in
1 879 was elected to the senate of the United
States to succeed James Shields. He was
re-elected in 18S5, and again in 1891 and
1S97. His many years of service in the
National congress, coupled with his ability
as a speaker and the active part he took in
the discussion of public questions, gave him
a wide reputation.
HANNIBAL HAMLIN, a noted American
statesman, whose name is indissolubly
connected with the history of this country,
was born in Paris, Maine, August 27, 1809.
He learned the printer's trade and followed
that calling for several years. He then
studied law, and was admitted to practice
in 1833. He was elected to the legislature
of the state of Maine, where he was several
times chosen speaker of the lower house.
He was elected to congress by the Demo-
crats in 1843, and re-elected in 1845. I' 1
1848 he was chosen to the United States
senate and served in that body until 1861.
He was elected governor of Maine in 1857
on the Republican ticket, but resigned when
re-elected to the United States senate
the same year. He was elected vice-presi-
dent of the United States on the ticket with
Lincoln in i860, and inaugurated in March,
1 861. In 1865 he was appointed collector
of the port of Boston. Beginning with
1869 he served two six-year terms in the
United States senate, and was then ap-
pointed by President Garfield as minister to
Spain in 1881. His death occurred July 4,
1891.
TSHAM G. HARRIS, famous as Confed-
1 erate war governor of Tennessee, and
distinguished by his twenty years of service
in the senate of the United States, was
born in Franklin county, Tennessee, and
educated at the Academy of Winchester.
He then took up the study of law, was ad-
mitted to the bar, and commenced practice
at Paris, Tennessee, in 1841. He was
elected to the state legislature in 1847, was
a candidate for presidential elector on the
Democratic ticket in 1848, and the next
year was elected to congress from his dis-
trict, and re-elected in 185 1. In 1853 he
was renominated by the Democrats of his
COMPENDIUM UF BIOGRAPHY.
215
district, but declined, and removed to Mem-
phis, where he took up the practice of law.
He was a presidential elector-at-large from
Tennessee in 1856, and was elected gov-
ernor of the state the next year, and again
in 1859, and in 1861. He was driven from
Nashville by the advance of the Union
armies, and for the last three years of the
war acted as aid upon the staff of the com-
manding general of the Confederate army
of Tennessee. After the war he went to
Liverpool, England, where he became a
merchant, but returned to Memphis in 1867,
and resumed the practice of law. In 1877
he was elected to the United States senate,
to which position he was successively re-
elected until his death in 1897.
NELSON DINGLEY, Jr., for nearly a
quarter of a century one of the leaders
in congress and framer of the famous
"Dingley tariff bill," was born in Durham,
Maine, in 1832. His father as well as all
his ancestors, were farmers, merchants and
mechanics and of English descent. Young
Dingley was given the advantages first of
the common schools and in vacations helped
his father in the store and on the farm.
When twelve years of age he attended high
school and at seventeen was teaching in a
country school district and preparing him-
self for college. The following year he en-
tered Waterville Academy and in 185 1 en-
tered Colby University. After a year and a
half in this institution he entered Dart-
mouth College and was graduated in 1855
with high rank as a scholar, debater and
-writer. He next studied law and was ad-
mitted to the bar in 1856. But instead of
practicing his profession he purchased the
" Lewistown (Me.) Journal," which be-
came famous throughout the New England
states as a leader in the advocacy of Repub-
lican principles. About the same time Mr.
Dingley began his political career, although
ever after continuing at the head of the
newspaper. He was soon elected to the
state legislature and afterward to the lower
house of congress, where he became a
prominent national character. He also
served two terms as governor of Maine.
OLIVER PERRY MORTON, a distin-
guished American statesman, was born
in Wayne county, Indiana, August 4, 1823.
His early education was by private teaching
and a course at the Wayne County Seminary.
At the age of twenty years he entered the
Miami University at Oxford, Ohio, and at
the end of two years quit the college, began
the study of law in the office of John New-
man, of Centerville, Indiana, and was ad-
mitted to the bar in 1847.
Mr. Morton was elected judge on the
Democratic ticket, in 1852, but on th*.
passage of the " Kansas-Nebraska Bill " he
severed his connection with that part}', and
soon became a prominent leader of the Re-
publicans. He was elected governor of In-
diana in 1 86 1, and as war governor became
well known throughout the country. He
received a paralytic stroke in 1865, which
partially deprived hiin of the use of his
limbs. He was chosen to the United States
senate from Indiana, in 1867, and wielded
great influence in that body until the time
of his death, November 1, 1877.
JOHN B. GORDON, a brilliant Confeder-
ate officer and noted senator of the United
States, was born in Upson county, Georgia,
February 6, 1832. He graduated from the
State University, studied law, and took up
the practice of his profession. At the be-
ginningof the war he entered the Confederate
service as captain of infantry, and rapidly
216
COMPEXDJUM OF BIOGRAPHY.
rose to the rank of lieutenant-general,
commanding one wing of the Confederate
army at the close of the war. In 1868 he
was Democratic candidate for governor of
Georgia, and it is said was elected by a large
majority, but his opponent was given the
office. He was a delegate to the national
Democratic conventions in 1868 and 1872,
and a presidential elector both years. In
1873 he was elected to the United States
senate. In 18S6 he was elected governor
of Georgia, and re-elected in 1888. He
was again elected to the United States
senate in 1890, serving until 1897, when he
was succeeded by A. S. Clay. He was
regarded as a leader of the southern Democ-
racy, and noted for his fiery eloquence.
STEPHEN JOHNSON FIELD, an illus-
trious associate justice of the supreme
court of the United States, was born at
Haddam, Connecticut, November 4, 1816,
being one of the noted sons of Rev. D.
D. Field. He graduated from Williams
College in 1837. took up the study of law
with his brother, David Dudley Field, be-
coming his partner upon admission to the
bar. He went to California in 1849, and at
once began to take an active interest in the
political affairs of that state. He was
elected alcalde of Marysville, in 1850, and
in the autumn of the same year was elected
to the slate legislature. In 1857 he was
elected judge of the supreme court of the
state, and two years afterwards became its
chief justice. In 1863 he was appointed by
President Lincoln as associate justice of the
supreme court of the United States. During
his incumbency, in 1873, he was appointed
by the governor of California one of a com-
mission to examine the codes of the state
and for the preparation of amendments to
the same for submission to the legislature.
In 1877 he was one of the famous electoral
commission of fifteen members, and voted
as one of the seven favoring the election of
Tilden to the presidency. In 1880 a large
portion of the Democratic party favored his
nomination as candidate for the presidency.
He retired in the fall of 1897, having
served a greater number of years on the
supreme bench than any of his associates or
predecessors, Chief Justice Marshall coining
next in length of service.
JOHN T. MORGAN, whose services in
the United States senate brought him
into national prominence, was born in
Athens, Tennessee, June 20, 1824. At the
age of nine years he emigrated to Alabama,
where he made his permanent home, and
where he received an academic education.
He then took up the study of law, and was
admitted to the bar in 1845. He took a
leading part in local politics, was a presi-
dential elector in i860, casting his ballot
for Breckenridge and Lane, and in 1 86 1
was a delegate to the state convention which
passed the ordinance of secession. In May,
of the same year, he joined the Confederate
army as a private in Company I, Cahawba
Rifles, and was soon after made major and
then lieutenant-colonel of the Fifth Regiment.
In 1862 he was commissioned colonel, and
soon after made brigadier-general and as-
signed to the command of a brigade in Vir-
ginia. He resigned to join his old regiment
whose colonel had been killed. He was
soon afterward again made brigadier-gen-
eral and given command of the brigade that
included his regiment.
After the war he returned to the prac-
tice of law, and continued it up to the time
of his election to the United States senate, in
1 877. He was a presidential elector in 1 876,
and cast his vote for Tilden and Hendricks.
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY.
217
He was re-elected to the senate in 18S3,
and again in 1889, and 1895. His speeches
and the measures he introduced, marked
as they were by an intense Americanism,
brought him into national prominence.
WILLIAM McKINLEY.the twenty-fifth
president of the United States, was
born at Niles, Trumbull county, Ohio, Jan-
uary 29, 1844. He was of Scotch-Irish
ancestry, and received his early education
in a Methodist academy in the small village
of Poland, Ohio. At the outbreak of the
war Mr. McKinley was teaching school,
earning twenty-five dollars per month. As
soon as Fort Sumter was fired upon he en-
listed in a company that was formed in
Poland, which was inspected and mustered
in by General John C. Fremont, who at
first objected to Mr. McKinley, as being too
young, but upon examination he was finally
accepted. Mr. McKinley was seventeen
when the war broke out but did not look his
age. He served in the Twenty-third Ohio
Infantry throughout the war, was promoted
from sergeant to captain, for good conduct
on the field, and at the close of the war,
for meritorious services, he was brevetted
major. After leaving the army Major Mc-
Kinley took up the study of law, and was
admitted to the bar, and in 1869 he took
his initiation into politics, being elected pros-
ecuting attorney of his county as a Republi-
can, although thedistrict was usually Demo-
cratic. In 1 876 he was elected to congress,
and in a call upon the President-elect, Mr.
Hayes, to whom he went for advice upon the
way he should shape his career, he was
told that to achieve fame and success he
must take one special line and stick to it.
Mr. McKinley chose tariff legislation and
he became an authority in regard to import
duties. He was a member of congress for
many years, became chairman of the ways
and means committee, and later he advo-
cated the famous tariff bill that bore his
name, which was passed in 1S90. In the
next election the Republican party was
overwhelmingly defeated through the coun-
try, and the Democrats secured more than
a two thirds majority in the lower house,
and also had control of the senate, Mr.
McKinley being defeated in his own district
by a small majority. He was elected gov-
ernor of Ohio in 1891 by a plurality of
twenty-one thousand, five hundred and
eleven, and two years later he was re-elected
by the still greater plurality of eighty thou-
sand, nine hundred and ninety-five. He was
a delegate-at-large to the Minneapolis Re-
publican convention in 1892, and was in-
structed to support the nomination of Mr.
Harrison. He was chairman of the con-
vention, and was the only man from Ohio
to vote for Mr. Harrison upon the roll call.
In November, 1892, a number of prominent
politicians gathered in New York to discuss
the political situation, and decided that the
result of the election had put an end to Mc-
Kinley and McKinleyism. But in less than
four years from that date Mr. McKinley was
nominated for the presidency against the
combined opposition of half a dozen rival
candidates. Much of the credit for his suc-
cess was due to Mark A. Hanna, of Cleve-
land, afterward chairman of the Republican
national committee. At the election which
occurred in November, 1896, Mr. McKinley
was elected president of the United States
by an enormous majority, on a gold stand-
ard and protective tariff platform. He was
inaugurated on the 4th of March, 1S97,
and called a special session of congress, to
which was submitted a bill for tariff reform,
which was passed in the latter part of July
of that vear.
218
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHT.
(-MNCINNATUS HEINE MILLER,
> known in the literary world as Joaquin
Miller, "the poet of the Sierras," was born
at Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1841. When only
about thirteen years of age he ran away
from home and went to the mining regions
in California and along the Pacific coast.
Some time afterward he was taken prisoner
by the Modoc Indians and lived with them
for five years. He learned their language
and gained great influence with them, fight-
ing in their wars, and in all modes of living
became as one of them. In 1S58 he left
the Indians and went to San Francisco,
where he studied law, and in i860 was ad-
mitted to the bar in Oregon. In 1866 he
was elected a county judge in Oregon and
served four years. Early in the seventies
he began devoting a good deal of time to
literary pursuits, and about 1874 he settled
in Washington, D. C. He wrote many
poems and dramas that attracted consider-
able attention and won him an extended
reputation. Among his productions may be
mentioned " Pacific Poems," " Songs of the
Sierras," "Songs of the Sun Lands,"
' ' Ships in the Desert, " ' ' Adrianne, a Dream
of Italy," "Danites," "Unwritten History,"
" First Families of the Sierras " (a novel),
" One Fair Woman " (a novel), " Songs of
Italy," " Shadows of Shasta," "The Gold-
Seekers of the Sierras," and a number of
others.
GEORGE FREDERICK ROOT, a
noted music publisher and composer,
was born in Sheffield, Berkshire county,
Massachusetts, on August 30, 1820. While
working on his father's farm he found time
to learn, unaided, several musical instru-
ments, and in his eighteenth year he went
to Boston, where he soon found employ-
ment as a teacher of music. From 1839
until 184411c gave instructions in music in
the public schools of that city, and was also
director of music in two churches. Mr.
Root then went to New York and taught
music in the various educational institutions
of the city. • He went to Paris in 1850 and
spent one year there in study, and on his re-
turn he published his first song, "Hazel
Dell." It appeared as the work of " Wur-
zel," which was the German equivalent of
his name. He was the originator of the
normal musical institutions, and when the
first one was started in New York he
was one of the faculty. He removed to
Chicago, Illinois, in i860, and established
the firm of Root & Cady, and engaged in
the publication of music. He received, in
[872, the degree of " Doctor of Music"
from the University of Chicago. After the
war the firm became George F. Root & Co.,
of Cincinnati and Chicago. Mr. Root did
much to elevate the standard of music in this
country by his compositions and work as a
teacher. Besides his numerous songs he
wrote a great deal of sacred music and pub-
lished many collections of vocal and instru-
mental music. For many years he was the
most popular song writer in America, and
was one of the greatest song writers of the
war. He is also well-known as an author,
and his work in that line comprises: " Meth-
ods for the Piano and Organ," "Hand-
book on Harmony Teaching, " and innumer-
able articles for the musical press. Among
his many and most popular songs of the
war time are: " Rosalie, the Prairie-flower,"
" Battle Cry of Freedom," " Just Before the
Battle," "Tramp, Tramp, Tramp, the Boys
are Marching," " The Old Folks are Gone,"
"A Hundred Years Ago," "Old Potomac
Shore, "and " There's Music in the Air." Mr.
Root's cantatas include "The Flower Queen"
and "The Haymakers." He died in 1896.
PART II.
A BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY
OF
DARKE COUNTY,
OHIO.
DARKE COUNTY,
OHIO.
HISTORICAL SKETCH OF DECEASED CITIZENS
OF DARKE COUNTY, OHIO.
By Professor J. T. Martz.
N preparing a biographical sketch of
the prominent dead of Darke county
the writer has been compelled to refer
to such records books and newspaper
reports as are within his reach ; also the per-
sonal knowledge and statements of the
friends of the deceased, and to depend upon
his own recollections. These facts then have
been gleaned from the most authentic sources
which are associated with the early rise and
progress of the county, and are continued
down to the present time.
But few who were contemporary with
the settlement of the town or county in their
earliest stages of history now live. From
them might have been obtained, from per-
sonal recollections, the trials and hardships,
the personal suffering and endurance of the
early pioneers and more recent settlers, but
they have all passed to the other shore. To
the writing and compilation of these events
much labor has been given, and the critical
reader will perhaps find many imperfections,
but tedious and perplexing as the task has
been in many of its details, on the whole it
has proved a source of gratification to col-
lect into one casket what were like "orient
pearls at random strung;" and we would
fain present this sketch b < its readers as a
13
variegated bouquet, culled from the many
gardens that adorn and diversify the unwrit-
ten pages of the history of this county, and
its many absent citizens.
The lives of many of our distinguished
dead are intimately associated with the early
history of the northwest, and particularly
with the defeat of St. Clair and its mourn-
ful results, which occurrence may be stated
as follows : On the evening of November
3. 1 791, his army encamped on the banks of
the Wabash, which location was once a part
of Darke county. Indian scouts in large
numbers were seen skulking through the
woods during the entire march to this place.
St. Clair intended to fortify his camp the
next day, but before four o'clock of Novem-
ber 4th, the Indians attacked the American
camp with a general discharge of firearms
and the most horrid yells. Favored by the
darkness, they broke into the camp and con-
tinued their work of death. The troops
were surprised and recoiled from the sud-
den shock. The artillerists were so rapidly
shot down that the guns were useless. Gal-
lant charges were made by Colonel Darke.
after whom this county was named, but not
having sufficient riflemen to support him,
his troops only exposed themselves t> 1 more
224
GENEALOGICAL AXD BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
certain destruction. General Butler was
killed in the early part of the engagement,
and as the only hope of saving the rem-
nant of the army. St. Clair "resolved upon
the desperate experiment" of charging upon
the flank of the Indians and gaining the
road, of which the Indians had possession.
The charge was led by the General in per-
son and was successful. The road was
gained, but not until more than six hun-
dred of his brave men lay dead Upon the field.
The soldiers now abandoned the artillery,
threw away their arms and equipments, and
never paused in their headlong flight until
they reached Fort Jefferson, twenty-nine
miles distant from the location of the battle.
Many were killed in this bloody retreat, and
forty years afterward the farmers in the
northwestern part of the county would fre-
quently find the remains of soldiers who gal-
lantly lost their lives in this unfortunate en-
counter.
History informs us that Adjutant-Gen-
eral Sargeant wrote in his diary that the
army had been defeated and at least half
had been killed and wounded, making a loss
of over nine hundred men. Following the
army were about one hundred women, wives
of officers and men, only a few of whom es-
caped. General Wilkinson, who succeeded
St. Clair in the command of the army, sent
a detachment from Fort Washington to the
battle ground in the following February for
the purpose of burying the dead. The
bodies were horribly mutilated, and those
who had not been killed outright during the
battle had been put to death with tortures
too terrible and revolting for description.
There being a deep snow upon the ground
at this time they failed to find many of the
bodies.
In September. 1794. nearly three years
after the battle, General Wayne sent a de-
tachment to build a fort upon the scene of
the disaster, which was done, and the struct-
ure was very significantly called Fort Re-
covery. It is said that in order to find all
the remains there unburied rewards for
finding skulls were offered. The ground in
places was literally covered with bones ; the
detachment found more than six hundred
skulls. On some the marks of the scalping
knife were plainly visible. Some were
hacked or marked by the tomahawk, while
others again were split open by a blow of
that weapon. The remains were buried, and
these facts prove the correctness of General
Sargeant's statement, that more than nine
hundred men lost their lives in this bloody
affair. Two desperate attempts were made
by the Indians to obtain possession of Fort
Recovery, but in each attempt they were re-
pulsed with severe loss. These transactions
render Fort Recovery one of the most memo-
rable in the history of our country. On the
7th of July, 1851, many of the remains of
these soldiers were found partly exposed,
and on that and the two following days they
were taken up by the citizens of Fort Re-
covery, and on the 10th of the following
September were reinterred at a mass meet-
ing of citizens from Kentucky, Indiana, Vir-
ginia and Ohio, the meeting being called ex-
pressly for that purpose. Thirteen coffins
were prepared, and it was intended to fill
each one partly full, but the remains entire-
ly filled these coffins, and also a large box
prepared for this purpose. They were in-
terred in the old cemetery at Fort Recovery,
by the side of Samuel McDowell, one of
their comrades who died and was buried
there in 1842. where they now rest — a low
circular mound of earth and stone marking
the spot.
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
226
These soldiers lost their lives in the de-
fense of their country and while in the em-
ployment of the United States government.
A committee appointed by congress investi-
gated the facts and details of this campaign
and exonerated General St. Clair from all
blame. It was the result of the fortunes of
war, and we can only honor our noble dead
by respecting their memory in the proper
way. No other place in American history is
more deserving of a suitable monument to
commemorate our nation's loss and to mark
the spot of her fallen heroes than is Fort
Recovery. Five or six acres of ground
within the limits of the fort should be pro-
cured suitable for a park.
Let this be done and a monument worthy
to commemorate these sad events be erected
there ; the remains of these soldiers should be
transferred to this monument as a suitable
location for their last resting place. This
is a matter that concerns the states of Mary-
land, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Kentucky and
Indiana, as well as Ohio. But these soldiers
did not sacrifice their lives for the protec-
tion of the citizens of these states merely.
It was to protect and defend a territory be-
longing to the general government from
the encroachments of a savage foe instigated
by the emissaries of a government glad to
seek an opportunity to continue a strife, that
by treaty had been settled in the independ-
ence of our country years before. It is
earnestly hoped that congress will soon take
such action, and that a suitable monument
commemorating the events herein named
will be erected at Fort Recovery.
In June, 1794, General Wayne com-
menced his campaign against the Indians of
the northwest, marching from Greenville
with a force of about three thousand men.
When near the northeastern line of Darke
county, the Indians held a council for the
purpose of settling the question as to the ex-
pediency of attacking Wayne's army at once.
Some of General Wayne's scouts, disguised
as Indians, with their faces painted with all
the hideousness of the savage on the war-
path, attended this savage council, listened
to all the arguments there advanced, and re-
ported the same to the General. Major
George Adams, who had so far recovered
from wounds received five years before as
to be in the service of Wayne's army, was
present at this council, disguised in full In-
dian rig and paint. He reported that Lit-
tle Turtle strongly urged that an onslaught
be made before morning. This advice was
withstood by the Crane, head chief of the
Wvandots, and by the Shawnee and Potta-
watomie chiefs, and the head men of other
tribes who were in the Indian force. The
reasons given by those who opposed the
Turtle's council were that they desired
Wayne to be farther away from his home,
as they designated Fort Greenville, and that
they could better engage him when they
were near their friends, as they designated a
British fort and garrison on the Maumee,
which had been kept up in defiance of the
stipulation of the treaty of 1783 ; but the true
reason of their opposition to the Turtle's ad-
vice was their distrust of him excited the
previous autumn at Fort Recovery. Major
Adams had previously been a soldier in Gen-
eral Harmar's army, again in the service as
a captain of scouts under Wayne, as above
intimated, and nearly twenty years later
commandant of the garrison at Greenville,
during the negotiations preceding the exe-
cution of the treaty of 1814, and later in life
was judge of the court of common pleas of
Darke county. Ohio. He was five times
shot and severelv wounded in one of the
226
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
three several defeats of Harmar. He sur-
vived, and was carried on a litter between
two horses to Cincinnati, although on the
way a grave was dug for him three even-
ings in succession. With his ashes in the
Martin cemetery, three miles east of Green-
ville, are two of the bullets of the five which
he carried in his body from 1789 until his
decease in 1832.
On the 20th of August, 1794, the battle
of Fallen Timbers was fought, which for a
number of years subdued the Indians and
caused them to sue for peace, which lasted
until 181 2, when Tecumseh stirred up the
Indians to such an extent as to bring on the
war resulting in the battle of the Thames.
This celebrated Shawnee chief was born at
what was known as the ancient town of Piq-
ua, located on the north side of Mad river,
and about five miles west of Springfield. In
1805 he and his brother, Lau-le-was'-i-ka,
the prophet, took a large part of his tribe to
Greenville, and built an Indian town on what
ij known as the Wiliam F. Bishop farm on
Mud creek. One writer says that Tecum-
seh and the prophet resided from 1805 to
1808 on the tongue of land between Mud
creek and Greenville creek, which place is
still known as Tecumseh's Point. This
point was held sacred by the red men, and
to such an extent did this feeling prevail
among the Indians that when orders were
issued in 1832 to remove them from the set-
tlements at Wapakoneta to their reservation
beyond the Mississippi river, the officer in
charge designed taking them through Miami
count}'' to Cincinnati, but they insisted on
being taken through Greenville that they
might once more visit the home of their chief
and prophet, and their request being granted,
they remained several days. The two loca-
tions are about three miles apart, and there
seems to be but little doubt of the brothers
having resided at both places. Here they
lived, and as the early settlers testify, they
carried on their thieving propensities the
same as they had done at "Old Piqua," from
which place they had been driven because of
these depredations. Nothing that the set-
tlers owned was safe, and they lived in con-
stant dread that they would not only lose
their property, but they felt that their lives
were not safe while surrounded by these
savages. Shortly after coming to Green-
ville the prophet announced an eclipse of the
sun, and that, happening at the time he pre-
dicted, increased the belief in his sacred char-
acter. Hostile movements resulted in the
expedition led by General Harrison, who, on
the 7th day of November, 181 1, encountered
the Indians at Tippecanoe, Indiana, and
gained a decisive victory over them. Te-
cumseh was not present at the battle, but
the Indians were commanded by the prophet,
who had promised them an easy victory.
Not accomplishing what he as a prophet fore-
told, he lost the confidence of the Indians and
was never able to restore his influence over
them. In 1812 Tecumseh was early in the
field. He fought at Brownstown, was
wounded at Magreaga and made a brigadier-
general by the British. He took a part in
the siege of Fort Meigs, and fell, bravely
fighting, in the battle of the Thames, in the
forty-fourth year of his age. His death shot
is ascribed to a pistol in the hands of Colonel
Richard M. Johnson, of Kentucky. We
thus make brief mention of these renowned
leaders of the aboriginal races to whose lands
we have become heirs, and in whose biogra-
phy Darke county has the honor of being so
prominently connected.
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
227
MURDER OF THE WILSON CHILDREX.
The early settlers of Greenville suffered
many hardships, and were exposed to many
dangers from 1808 to 18 16. Indians were
numerous, and while they were generally
considered friendly, the settlers lived in con-
stant alarm, and a ceaseless dread of treach-
ery and violence hung like a threatening
cioud over them. There were many In-
dian tribes at that time friendly to the
whites, and while scouts were constantly on
the move and vigilant in their efforts to give
the first alarm of danger, these friendly In-
dians were supplied with white flags, prop-
erly marked, which permitted them to pass
the outposts of the whites in safety. This
feeling of dread was not produced by the acts
of the Indians alone, but the whites did
much to increase the anxiety and danger.
At one time a party of whites discharged a
volley into a body of Indians carrying one
of these flags, and approaching with the ut-
most confidence. Two Indians were in-
stantly killed, a third was wounded, and the
rest were taken prisoners and robbed. One
of the settlers, Andrew Rush, was killed by
the Indians, and it was reported that a
trader at Fort Recovery had been killed by
his partner, but the Indians were accused
of the crime. Greenville was then a stock-
ade, and in the summer of 1812 many of the
men were away rendering military service
to the government, and but few men re-
mained at the fort. It is said about this
time a number of white men came upon a
party of Indians with their women and chil-
dren. The whites treated the Indian chil-
dren with cruelty, taking them by the feet
and swinging them around their heads, and
when the Indians remonstrated and asked
them to desist, one man dashed out the
brains of one of the children. An attempt
would have been made to punish the mur-
derer immediately, but the whites were too
strong, and the Indians awaited a future time
in which to obtain their revenge. This time
soon came. In July, 181 2, Patsy and Anna
Wilson, daughters of "Old Billy Wilson,"
and aged respectively fourteen and eight
years, accompanied by their brother older
than they, left the stockade in the afternoon
to gather berries. The brother took a gun
with him for safety, as it is said that some
time previous he had been chased by the In-
dians, and being hard pressed he took shel-
ter behind a tree, then placed his hat on the
muzzle of his gun, exposed the same to the
fire of the Indians, and while they stopped
to load their guns he made his escape. The
three crossed Greenville creek near N.
Kuntz's saw-mill, and were picking berries
under the trees when they were attacked by
three Indians. The brother had left his gun
near by, and the three were some distance
apart at the time of the surprise. Not being
able to secure his gun, the brother escaped
by swimming the stream. His cries and the
screams of the girls attracted the attention
of Abraham Scribner and William Devor,
who immediately ran to the spot, but the
Indians had fled, after killing the girls by
blows on the head with the poll or back of
their tomahawks and scalping one of them,
they not having time to scalp the other one.
When the help came the girl that had been
scalped was already dead, the other gasped a
few times after they reached her. The dead
bodies were carried into the fort and the
alarm given, but the Indians escaped. Two
innocent lives were thus sacrificed in retalia-
tion for the death of the Indian child. The
sisters were buried under the tree near where
228
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
they were murdered, and this was the last
tragedy of those perilous times. It was not
safe for Indians to show themselves in this
vicinity after that atrocious butchery, and
the war being carried to the northwest, fol-
lowed by the treaty of 1S14. left the inhab-
itants of Greenville in comparative safety.
About the 1st of July, 1871, the remains of
these two sisters were taken up, and on the
fourth of the same month, the "Nation's
Birthday," they were deposited in the Green-
ville cemetery with appropriate ceremonies,
a large assembly of the people being in at-
tendance to show their respect for the dead.
On the same day a large granite boulder,
weighing perhaps four tons, swung under a
wagon drawn by six horses, was driven into
the cemetery and placed over their grave.
Here let them rest in peace, and may their
monument be a constant reminder to us of
the trials and dangers through which the
early settlers of our peaceful city passed, and
may it admonish us of the importance of
properly appreciating the privileges and
blessings we enjoy.
ANDREW RUSH.
About the 28th of April. 181 2. Andrew
Rush started for a little mill which had been
built on Greenville creek, a few rods above
where the Beamsville road to Greenville
marks a crossing. He got his grist and set
out to return home. On his way home he
stopped to make a call on Daniel Potter, who,
with Isaac Vail, was occupying each his own
end of a double log house, which stood be-
tween the late residence of Moses Potter
and the creek. The two settlers from some
cause had become fearful of trouble, and had
gone down the Miami for assistance to take
back their families to their former homes.
Mrs. Potter asked Mr. Rush if he were not
afraid of the Indians, and he put his hand
through his hair and replied jokingly, "No:
I had my wife cut my hair this morning so
>hort that they could not get my scalp."
Some time about 4 p. m, he left for home,
and had not proceeded half a mile when he
was shot from his horse, tomahawked and
his scalp taken. Uneasiness was felt because
of his not returning home, but all the fore-
noon next day rain fell steadily and it was
thought he might have stayed with a settler ;
but in the afternoon Mr. Hiller's oldest son
and Mr. Rush's brother-in-law took a horse
and set out to look for him. The boys fol-
lowed the track made by Rush to Greenville
creek, just above the place known as Spiece's
Mill, and there found the body lying on the
sack of meal, mutilated as described. The
boys then visited the houses of the settlers,
but found all the cabins silent and deserted.
They then hastened to the cabin of Henry
Rush, and it was abandoned. The truth was
evident that a panic had seized upon all. and
they had fled for their lives. Xext morning
men from Preble county moved out on the
road to the body of Andrew Rush and gave
it burial.
AZOR AND ABRAHAM SCRIBNER.
Among the first settlers of Greenville was
Azor Scribner. Late in 1806 or early in
1807, he came to Greenville with a small
] stock of Indian goods, including tobacco
and whisky, and began business in a cabin
built by a Frenchman who had deserted the
same two years before because of the thiev-
ing depredations of the Indians. He did not
bring his family, consisting of a wife and
two daughters, from Middletown until 1808,
but what time of the year is not known. It
is conceded that the first white man who,
with a wife and children, emi°rated to the
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
229
county and settled in Greenville township
was Samuel Boyd, who came in 1807 and
bulit himself a cabin about two and one-half
miles north by east of the site of Fort Green-
ville on the bank of a branch that yet goes by
the name of Boyd's creek. Boyd was a native
of Maryland, had lived in Kentucky, and
was probably married there before he emi-
grated to Ohio and had, as far as we are
able to learn, stopped one or two years near
the Miami in Butler county, before emigrat-
ing to the wilderness, that, two years after-
ward, created the county of Darke. Boyd
lost his wife about 181 6. and she was the first
person buried in the old graveyard below the
railroad bridge ; the early settlers having pre-
viously used as a cemetery the lot on which
the Catholic church is erected, but during the
occupancy of the fort by General Wayne's
army his hospital was located on the lot now
ocupied by Judge George A. Jobes, while his
graveyard was located upon the lot now oc-
cupied by the dwelling house of R. S. Fri-
zell. Boyd died in 1829 or 1830; one of his
daughters, the wife of John Carnahan, had
died in 1821 or 1822; and another, the wife
of Robert Martin, lived until about thirteen
years ago. recognized as the oldest inhabitant
of the county at that time. Soon after Boyd
came, Azor Scribner removed his family
and, abandoning the cabin on the west side
of the creek, occupied one of the buildings
of the fort that had escaped the fire which in
a measure destroyed the fort inside of the
pickets. Azor died in 1822 and his widow,
in the early part of 1825, married a Yankee
adventurer, who in less than a year deserted
her, and the last ever heard of him was that
he was in jail in Canada, on a charge of
treason, having been involved in what was
there known as McKenzie's rebellion.
Abraham Scribner, brother of Azor, came to
Greenville in the summer or early fall of
181 1. He had previously been master of 1 • ne
or more vessels engaged in the navigation of
the Hudson river, from New York to Troy,
or in the coasting trade from Passamma-
quoddy bay to the capes of the Chesapeake,
and, sometimes, as far south as Cape Hat-
teras. When he came to Darke county he
was about thirty years old. From exposure
while commander of a vessel a year or two
before he nearly lost the sense of hearing,
and this infirmity in connection with some,
other peculiarities made him a man singular
and exceptional in character and deport-
ment. Part of his time he spent in Green-
ville, in the family of Mrs. Armstrong, until
his death in January. 1812, and part of the
time in Montgomery county in the family of
John Devor, one of the proprietors of Green-
ville, whose daughter Rachel he married in
1814. What he did to make a living for him-
self for a year or more after he came to this
county none now living knows. He appeared
tc be always busy, and yet no one could tell
whether he was doing anything. Being at
Day ton in the spring of 1813, he enlisted in
Colonel Dick Johnson's mounted regiment,
and with it went to upper Canada where, in
the fall of that year, he participated in the
battle of the Fallen Timber, where Proctor
was defeated and Tecumseh was killed.
After being discharged from the service he
married Miss Rachel Devor, and having en-
tered the prairie quarter-section of land above
the mouth of Mud creek, now owned by the
estate of J. W. Sater, deceased, he erected a
log house upon it ; also brought his wife from
Montgomery count}', and began housekeep-
ing. In about two years Scribner sold his
quarter-section, on which he had paid only
230
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
his entrance money, eighty dollars, to John
Compton, of Dayton, for sixteen hundred
dollars, and took his pay in a stock of goods
at retail price, and opened out a store. In
the summer of 1821 Scribner lost his first
wife, and, after an interval of a few weeks,
married a second wife. Miss Jane Ireland,
of the vicinity of Xew Paris, who also died
in the summer of 1822. After the death of
his second wife, he sold out his stock of
goods, and having placed his children among
friends, went to the Maumee, where he pur-
chased land in Henry county, and squandered
his money in half clearing some land, and
having several thousand rails made, con-
cerning which, five years afterward. Jacob
DeLong wrote to him that "they were lying
in the woods and getting no better very fast. '
In a few months he returned to Greenville
and resumed the mercantile business, in
which he continued the residue of his life.
In January, 1825. lie married his third wife.
He died in March, 1847. > n the sixty-sixth
year of his age. Mr. Scribner was a pecu-
liar character. During ten or twelve years
of his life he was the power of the county.
He was the autocrat and ruler of the Dem-
ocratic party, and discharged all the func-
tions of caucuses, primary elections and
nominating conventions. Those he allowed
to run for office ran and were elected, and
those he forbade had to keep shady and hold
their peace. But at last he switched off from
Jackson Democracy, although he would be
"right in line" now among Democrats, for
he was an uncompromising adherent to the
resolutions of 1798. His last wife died
several years ago, as did Mrs. S. J. Arnold,
who was the last of the children of his first
wife, and was the wife of Henry Arnold,
deceased, for many years a successful dry-
goods merchant in Greenville.
ABRAHAM STUDABAKER.
A pioneer of Darke county, Ohio, Abra-
ham Studabaker was born in Westmoreland
county, Pennsylvania, about the year 1785,
and died in Darke county. Ohio, March 16,
1852. He was brought with his father's fam-
ily to Ohio in the year 1793, and passed his
youth in Clinton count}', where his parents
died. In the spring of 1808 he became one of
the first settlers of Darke county, which was
then a wilderness, inhabited by wild beasts
and Indians. At this time there were but two
habitations in the territory that now corn-
pries the county. He erected a third rude
log cabin, having a chimney built of sticks
cemented with mud. as a home for his fam-
ily, a wife and one young child. Mr. Studa-
baker's experience was a good illustration
of some of the difficulties that disheartened
the early settlers. He brought with him a
horse and cow, and after awhile his little
>t< ick of domestic animals was increased by
the birth of a calf. During the first year he
cleared an acre or two of ground, which he
planted in corn. He had just gathered his
little crop when his faithful horse died of
milk-sickness, and shortly afterward the
calf was killed by wolves. Hoping to catch
some of these ravenous beasts, he baited a
wolf trap with the mangled remains of the
poor calf, and the cow. in hunting for her
lost baby, put her head into the trap which
fell and broke her neck. Soon after the
breaking out of the war of 1812, he erected
a block-house in the vicinity of Gettysburg,
as a protection against the Indians. All other
families fled the surrounding part of the
country, but he remained through the dan-
gers of the struggle. He used to remark
that he was too poor to get away. For about
two weeks after dangers began to thicken
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
231
he was housed up in his wooden fort, himself,
wife and one young child being the only oc-
cupants, threatened with ail manner of bar-
barities and outrages by the frenzied Indians,
against which as a means of defense he had
but two rifles and a small amount of ammu-
nition. The second (or garret) story of this
structure projected on all sides a few feet
over the first or ground story, thus giving
its inmates a fair chance to repel parties at-
tempting to break in. or to fire the building
from below. For protection against this lat-
ter mode of attack on the part of the Indians,
he kept constantly ready two hogsheads
filled with water. After he had for about
two weeks been in this isolated and danger-
ous condition, the government, greatly to his
relief, sent six soldiers with arms and ammu-
nition for the protection of his little. family.
This block-house, which Studabaker had
charge of during the war. served as an inn.
a port of refuge, official headquarters and
other valuable purposes. Upon one occasion
he captured five armed Indians and turned
them over to the government officer. They,
however, -subsequently escaped and killed
two United States soldiers near Greenville,
named Stoner and Elliott. While Abraham
Studabaker and his family escaped the bar-
barities of this savage conflict, his brother
David was murdered by the Indians near the
site of Fort Wayne, Indiana. After the war
closed Mr. Studabaker was employed by the
government to furnish cattle to feed the In-
dians till the treaty of peace could be con-
summated. Upon the organization of Darke
county in 1817, he was placed on the first
board of commissioners and served with it
for thirteen years. He was also a captain in
early day militia. He was reared and lived
amid scenes of pioneer privation and hard-
ships, and as a natural result his education
was exceedingly meagre. He was. however,
endowed with fine natural business abilities,
and had a most successful financial career.
He was largely instrumental in securing the
first railroad through Darke county, for-
merly the Greenville and Miami, now the
Dayton and Union. He also advanced the
money to build the first court house in the
county. He was a man of excellent judg-
ment, great sagacity, large hospitality, and
of unquestionable integrity. He spoke his
mind without reserve, and was very decided
in his opinions, and in politics strongly
Democratic. His first wife was Mary Town-
send, daughter of William Townsend, of
Clinton county, Ohio, and she bore W.ra
seven children. His second wife was Eliza-
beth Hardman.. of Butler county, Ohio, who
bore him five children. She died in the fall
of 1868. David Studabaker, .second son of
his first wife, was born in the old block-
house, September 17. 1814. On February 13,
1835, he married Maria, daughter of Will-
iam Folkerth of Darke county, who bore him
five children. Mrs. Studabaker died in April,
1846. On December 13, 1849. ne married
Jane, daughter of Samuel Culbertson, of the
same county. David Studabaker was one of
the movers in the organization of the county
agricultural society, also a prominent par-
ticipant in securing the first railroad through
the county, and for two years was president
of the company. By occupation he was a
farmer, and a very active, industrious and
a good citizen. He also held the office of
county commissioner, being elected on the
232
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
Democratic ticket. This office he filled with
honor ; no better financier, and no one more
honorable and trustworthy than he, has ever
filled the responsible position; he died several
years ago.
JOHN DEVOR.
John Devor was born in Pennsylvania
and came to Darke county in 1808. He
died in Greenville in the year 1828. He and
one Rachel Armstrong entered the first
half-section of land within the present limits
of the county, being the west half of section
35, township 12, range 2 east, and laid out
the town of Greenville in 1810. The legis-
lature of Ohio, in session at Zanesville, by
their act of January 3, 1809. created the
county of Darke out of the territory pre-
viously forming a part of the county of
Miami and, within a year afterward, a com-
mission appointed by the legislature estab-
lished the seat of justice of the newly formed
county at Terry's, town of Greenville, north
of Greenville creek ; but there being some
dissatisfaction, it may be well to state that
by the enactment of the legislature at its ses-
sion of 1810-11 a new commission was cre-
ated, to whom was confided the duty of re-
locating the seat of justice of the county.
This commission consisted of two members
from Miami county and one from Preble,
and after considering the proposition of
Terry. Briggs. and that of Devor and Mrs.
Armstrong, and looking to the material
benefits to the county, as proffered by the
parties, accepted the proposition of Devor
and Mrs. Armstrong, and selected as the
future county seat the town laid out at
Wayne's old fort of Greenville. The ac-
cepted proposition covenanted to donate to
the county one-third of all the town lots then
laid out, or that they or their heirs might
thereafter lay out, on the adjoining lands in
the west half of said section 35, in which
their town plat was located. Some years
after. Mrs. Armstrong having died in the
meantime, Devor, for himself, and on behalf
of the heirs of Mrs. Armstrong, pursuant to
the order of the court of common pleas, exe-
cuted their contract so far as the lots then
laid off was concerned, by conveying to the
commissioners of Miami county in trust for
the county of Darke, when it should there-
after be organized, thirty-two of the ninety-
six lots then laid out. but, although addi-
tional town lots on the adjacent land of the
half-section have since been laid out by the
heirs of Devor. and also by the heirs of Mrs.
Armstrong, no further donation or convey-
ance has ever been made, nor have the com-
missioners of Darke county ever demanded
or required any further performance of their
covenant. John Devor's son, James, was
born near Maysville, Kentucky, while their
family were on their way from Pennsylvania,
in 1795. He learned surveying from his
father and for a number of years was county
surveyor of Darke county. He was the first
auditor of Darke county, from May, 1S44,
to October, 1847, ne was county treasurer,
and for a number of years was a justice of
the peace; he died in October, 1855. His
wife, Patience Dean, was a daughter of
Aaron Dean, one of the early settlers of the
county. They were married March 1, 1828,
and ten children were born unto them, of
whom five now survive, John and Elijah be-
ing prominent attorneys of the Greenville
bar, the latter being also a referee in bank-
ruptcy, under the late United States bank-
ruptcy law. John Devor is a prominent
politician, an unswerving Republican ami a
warm personal friend of Hon. John Sher-
man. He was the Republican elector for the
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
283
fourth congressional district in 1888 and had
the honor of casting his vote for Hon. Ben-
jamin Harrison for president of the United
States.
JOHN LEOPOLD WINNER.
Merchant, banker and legislator of Green-
ville, Ohio, J. P. Winner was born in Frank-
lin, Warren county, Ohio, November 19,
1816. His parents were Isaac and Mary
(Powell) Winner, natives of New Jersey.
They were married in Philadelphia and in
18 1 6 came to Ohio, where they passed their
lives. Mrs. Winner died in April, 1832, and
her husband in October, following. For
about four years subsequent to his father's
death our subject worked at the cooper's
trade. In April, 1836. he came to Darke
county and located in Greenville, where he
extensively identified himself with the busi-
ness of the community and also held promi-
nent places in the political councils of the
county and state. In November, 1837, he
married Miss Charlotte Clark, daughter of
John Clark, Esq., of Warren county, Ohio.
For some five years Mr. Winner was in the
grocery business. Eight years he kept a
hotel. Four years he kept a drug store. In
1853 he engaged in banking in company with
the late Colonel J. W. Frizell, and thus con-
tinued till May, 1865, when he became a
stockholder in the Farmers National Bank of
Greenville, and in January, 1866, he was
made cashier of that institution, which po-
sition he held until January, 1872. In April,
1873, ne opened the Exchange Bank of
Greenville and conducted the business of
that flourishing institution. His wife died
August 12, 1863. She possessed in a high
degree those noble qualities of mind and
heart so essential to a true wife, and was
revered in the community for her sweet-
ness of disposition and sympathizing charity
for the poor and unfortunate. She left an
only daughter, Hattie, who inherited the
sterling qualities of her mother, but the loss
of her mother so affected her that she sur-
vived her but a few weeks, dying at the age
of fifteen years. On April 1, 1867, Mr.
Winner married Mrs. Jane Crider, of Green-
ville, daughter of John W. Porter, of the
same place. In 1863 Mr. Winner became
a member of the firm of Moore & Winner,
which for a long time was one of the leading
dry-goods firms of the county. In 1846 he
was appointed auditor of Darke county, and
from 1857 to 1861 he represented Darke
county in the legislature of the state, and
from 1867 to 1 87 1 he served in the state
senate. In 1874 he was elected mayor of
Greenville and served two years. In politics
he was a Democrat. Although his school
advantages were very meager, his active mind
grasped a knowledge of men and things that
fully compensated the loss. During the years
1861-63 he was treasurer of the committee
to secure a county fund to encourage enlist-
ments in the Union army and gave the sub-
ject much attention. He died several years
ago.
W. A. WESTOX.
Washington .Mien Weston, deceased,
of Greenville. Ohio, was born in Alexandria,
Virginia, March 3. 18 14. and died at Green-
ville, Ohio, April 24. 1876. His father,
William Weston, was a sea captain and
perished at sea. His mother, Rebecca Con-
yers. was an English lady, and died soon
after the death of her husband. When an
orphan boy of fifteen he came to Ohio, and
was six years a salesman in a mercantile
house in Dayton, Ohio, where he made a
record for fine business talent, industry and
234
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
honesty. About 1835, w ' tn a small capital,
he began business in Piqua, Ohio, but the
financial crisis of 1836-37 swept away every
dollar he possessed. Nothing daunted, how-
ever, he soon began again in Covington,
Miami county, where he prospered and be-
came leader in the public affairs of the com-
munity. In 1847 ne was elected on the Whig
ticket to the general assembly of Ohio and
acquitted himself with credit. In the fall of
1848 he located in Greenville and opened
the first hardware store of the place. In
1856 he purchased the Dayton Paper Mills
and for seven years conducted a thriving
business in that city. In 1863 he returned
to Greenville, resumed the hardware trade
and in January, 1866, became one of the or-
ganizers of the Farmers' National Bank of
Greenville and president of the same, re-
maining such until his decease. He was
prominently active in the local enterprises
of the community and his generosity was
as universal as mankind, with a heart ever
open and hand ever extended to relieve the
necessities of the poor and unfortunate. He
possessed a fine literary and scientific taste
and had a very fair education; was a good
conversationalist, excelled as a writer and
contributed a number of timely articles to
the public press of the day. The guiding
principle of his life was the golden rule and
he practiced its teachings in his daily busi-
ness. Ever industrious and careful, he ac-
cumulated a large competency, provided well
for his family and was respected by all who
knew him. In his death this community
suffered the loss of a good financier and a
worthy citizen.
W. M. WILSON".
William Martin Wilson, lawyer, judge
and legislator, was born near Mifflin, luniata
county, Pennsylvania, March 11. 1808, and
died in Greenville, Ohio, June 15, 1S64. His
parents were Thomas Wilson and Jane Mar-
tin and in 181 1 they came to Ohio, passed
about a year in Fairfield county, and in 1812
settled in Butler county, where Mr. Wilson
was raised. He was educated in Miami
University, at Oxford, Ohio, studied law
with the late Hon. Jesse Corwin, of Hamil-
ton, Ohio, was admitted to the bar in 1832
and then began practice in that place. In the
fall of 1835 he located in Greenville and at
once took a leading position as a lawyer.
For a number of years he served as prosecut-
ing attorney of Darke county. On Septem-
ber 19, 1837, ne married Miss Louise Dosey,
of Greenville, Ohio. She was born in But-
ler county April 23. 181 5, and died August
2, 1856. In December, 1837, he started the
Darke County Advocate, which, with a
change of name, is now the Greenville Jour-
nal. In October, 1840, he was elected
auditor of Darke county and was twice re-
elected, thus serving six years. In the fall
of 1846 he was elected to the Ohio senate,
from the district composed of the counties
of Darke, Miami and Shelby, and held the
seat two years, during which time he rose
to a very prominent position in that body,
and came within one vote of being elected
state auditor, having already gained the
reputation of being one of the most efficient
county auditors in the state. This one lack-
ing vote he could have supplied by voting for
himself, a thing which his manly modesty
forbade. In the fall of 1856 he was ap-
pointed by Governor Chase as common pleas
judge of the first subdivision of the second
judicial district of Ohio to fill a vacancy.
His decisions were distinguished for great
research and ability. Being too old to enter
the service during the war for the Union,
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
235
he was. nevertheless, as a member of the
military committee of his district, an active
and earnest supporter of the government.
He stood for many years at the head of the
Greenville bar and was regarded as one of
the best jurists in Ohio, and by his moral
worth gave a higher character to the profes-
sion. He was a man of unusually quiet and
retiring disposition ; his words were few, but
well chosen, and his sarcasm and repartee
were like a flash of lightning on an op-
ponent. At the same time he bore a heart
of the warmest and tenderest sympathies.
For a number of years he held the office of
elder in the Presbyterian church of Green-
ville. He lived and died an honest, upright
man, in whom, as friend, neighbor and citi-
zen, the community had the fullest con-
fidence.
THOMAS DUNCAN STILES.
This gentleman, physician, surgeon and
legislator, at Fort Jefferson, Darke county,
Ohio, was born near Carlisle, Pennsylvania,
August 6, 1809. His father was Edward
James Stiles, and his mother, Ann Stiles,
was a daughter of Thomas Duncan, who
for many years was one of the supreme
judges of the state. In his early days our
subject attended school at Carlisle and was
then admitted to Mount St. Mary's College,
near Emmitsburg, Maryland, where he spent
nearly three years. During this time Rev.
Eagan McGeary and Rev. John B. Purcell
were presidents. He subsequently entered
a military school at Mount Airy, German-
town, Pennsylvania, taught by Colonel A.
L. Roumfort, where he remained until he
was appointed a cadet to the military acad-
emy at West Point. Remaining there for
over two years, he returned to Carlisle, com-
menced the study of medicine under Dr. D.
N. Mahon and attended medical lectures at
the University of Pennsylvania. After com-
pleting his medical studies he located at
Nashville, Tennessee, where he remained
about eighteen months, and then went as
surgeon on the whale-ship North America,
df Wilmington, Delaware, which vessel,
after an eight-months cruise, was lost on the
coast of Australia. After the wreck of this
vessel he made his way to China and engaged
in the opium trade about two years, when he
returned to the United States. Finding his
mother dead and his home broken up, he
again went on a voyage to Montivideo, in
South America. On the arrival of the vessel
at that port he quarreled with his captain,
left the vessel and went to Buenos Ayres.
Finding that country engaged in war with
Montivideo he entered the army as a cap-
tain, but not having received the stipulated
salary he resigned, and returning to Monti-
video entered the naval service of that coun-
try. Finding the prospects of payment no
better than before, he withdrew and returned
to the United States in the sloop of war De-
catur, under command of Captain, after-
ward Admiral, Farragut. After spending a
few months with his friends in Philadelphia
he went to the Rocky mountain country,
and for more than a year was engaged in
trading with the Indians. Returning to the
United States he resumed the practice of
medicine near the mouth of Red river, in the
state of Louisiana, but finding the climate
injurious to his health he remained but a
short time, and in 1843 cam e to Ohio, set-
tling at Fort Jefferson, Darke county, where
he resided until his death, which occurred
several years ago, with the exception of a
few years passed in Lewisburg, Preble coun-
ty. While in Lewisburg he served in the
capacity of mayor, and upon his return to
236
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
Darke county he was elected to the Ohio as-
sembly, in 1872, and served two years. Upon
the opening of the civil war Dr. Stiles en-
tered the three-months service in the
Eleventh Ohio as a private, although his mil-
itary qualifications would have secured for
him a high official rank. In August, fol-
lowing, he enlisted in the same capacity in
the Fifth Ohio Cavalry and after one year's
service was discharged on account of ill
health. Upon the invasion of his native
state by the rebels, in 1863, he enlisted in
the heavy artillery service in the Eleventh
Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers, and
served one year, when he was honorably dis-
charged. In 1878 he was appointed by Gov-
ernor Bishop one of the trustees of the Day-
ton asylum for the insane and on the or-
ganization of the board was elected president.
He was twice married. His first wife was
Sarah Jane DeCamp, whom he married in
1846. She died in 1854, having been the
mother of three children, all now deceased.
In 1856 he married Mrs. Eliza, widow of
Samuel Hannah, and daughter of Thomas
and Mary Beatty. The result of this union
were two children, a son, James Buchanan
Stiles, a teacher by profession, and a daugh-
ter. In politics Mr. Stiles had always been a
firm and consistent Democrat. Dr. Stiles
when advanced in years was remarkably hale
and hearty, and buoyant and mirthful in
spirit. He was a man of clear head, strong
feelings, independent but conscientious in his
opinion, which upon proper occasion he ex-
pressed without reserve.
WILLIAM HENRY EMERSON,
general of militia and a banker, was born
in Butler county, Ohio, May 8. 1808, and
died in Greenville, Ohio, December 11, 1877.
His parents were James and Eve Emerson ;
the former born in Vermont, July 17, 1783,
died January 31 1853; the latter born April
3, 1788, died May 13, 1847. He was a
distant connection of the American author
and lecturer, Ralph Waldo Emerson. When
our subject was eight years of age the fam-
ily settled in Darke county, Ohio. His
wife, Catharine Buckingham, was born near
Baltimore, Maryland, November 6, 1807,
and he married her in Fort Nesbit, Preble
county, Ohio, November 2, 1826. From
this marriage were born one son, Martin
Van Buren, and four daughters, Malinda,
Sarah Ann, Mary Jane and Elizabeth. Mrs.
Emerson's father was Mash Buckingham,
born in Maryland, June 31, 1785. At an
early day Mr. Emerson held the position of
brigadier-general in the militia, and was
also for a number of years justice of the
peace. For several years he conducted the
business of a banker in Hollansburg, Darke
county, and in' 1865 moved to Greenville,
where he became a director in the Farmers'
National Bank of that place, of which for
nearly two years he was president, holding
the position at the time of his decease. He
was also for several years president of the
Darke County Pioneer Society. He was a
man of very decided traits of character, and
was conceded to be a leader in all circles in
which he moved. In natural ability he was
far above the average, but his early oppor-
tunities were such as to afford him nothing
more than a very ordinary education. He
possessed unusual good sense, and was a
very superior counselor. All his business
transactions were characterized by the great-
est particularity and caution, as also by im-
partial dealing. He was plain, prompt and
positive in all he did. His social qualities
were attractive, and his powers of imita-
tion wonderful. He would have made a
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
287
first-class comedian. His memory also was
very remarkable. He is said to have been
the shrewdest financier that Darke county
ever had. He was exceedingly careful in his
business and accumulated a handsome for-
tune.
ANDREW R. CALDERWOOD.
Andrew Robeson Calderwood, attorney-
at-law of Greenville, and one of the old
settlers of Darke county, was born in Mont-
gomery county, Ohio, September 14, 1818,
and died at Greenville several years ago.
He was a son of George and Margaret
( Robeson) Calderwood, natives of Hunt-
ingdon county, Pennsylvania. They were
married September 14, 1811, and in the fall
of 1 817 moved to near Dayton, Ohio, going
thence in 1832 to Darke county, where
George Calderwood died September 7, 1849.
His wife survived him until August 12,
1873, when her death occurred. George
Calderwood was of Scotch parents and
though uneducated was a man of sound judg-
ment, great firmness and courage, of large
stature and possessed of an iron constitu-
tion. He was kind and generous to a fault.
Margaret Robeson descended from Scotch,
Welsh and Irish ancestry, and was a woman
of remarkable good sense, fine natural tal-
ent and great kindness. Our subject was
employed in early life upon a farm, digging
ditches, mauling rails, etc. His education
was meager, but being called upon to serve
as juror, he was so inspired by the eloquence
of some of the attorneys in the case that
he resolved to become a lawyer and at once
commenced the study of law, being admitted
to the bar and beginning practice in 185 1.
He was elected probate judge in 1854 and
after serving three years he entered the
Union army as second lieutenant; was pro-
moted to captain of Company I, Fortieth
Ohio Volunteer Infantry; resigned his com-
mission on account of injuries received from
being thrown from a horse, and on regain-
ing his health he was re-commissioned by
Governor Tod, and by Colonel Cranor was
assigned to the command of his old company.
After six months' service in the above posi-
tion, by loss of his voice and previous in-
juries, he was again compelled to leave the
active service of the army and acted in the
capacity of recruiting officer until the close
■of the war, after which he resumed the prac-
tice of law. On December 3, 1876, he as-
sumed the editorial control of the Sunday
Courier, a leading organ of the Republican
party of Darke county. He was three times
elected mayor of Greenville, and in 1868
the Republicans of Darke county presented
his name in the fourth congressional district
of Ohio for congress, his competitor, Mr.
McClung, being nominated by a small, ma-
jority over him. He always had a liberal
share of the law practice in this county and
enjoyed more than a local reputation as a
criminal lawyer; at the forum his abilities
were best known; he had an original faculty
of developing a subject by a single glance
of the mind, detecting as quickly the point
upon which every controversy depended.
There was a deep self-conviction and em-
phatic earnestness in his manner, and a close
logical connection in his thoughts. He
wove no garlands of flowers to hang in fes-
toons around a favorite argument, yet for
impromptu appeals and eloquence he stood
among the first of his profession, and, by his
great knowledge of human nature he was
acknowledged to be one of the best judges
of a jury at the bar.
23S
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
WILLIAM J. BIRELEY
was born in Frederick county. Maryland.,
in 1812, and died suddenly in Adams town-
ship, Darke county, Ohio, several years ago.
He was the son of John and Barbara Bire-
ley. John was born in the first county
above named and Barbara was born in
Hagerstown, Maryland. Her maiden name
was Brindle. The grandfather, John Bire-
ley, was born in Saxony and emigrated to
this country before the Revolutionary war.
The grandmother was from Wurtemberg,
Germany, and also came to this country
prior to the Revolutionary war. Mr. Bire-
ley's father came to Lancaster, Ohio, in the
spring of 1822 and in the fall following-
went to Montgomery county, where he lived
until his death, which occurred in 1827.
Mr. Bireley, the subject of this sketch, came
to Darke county, October 15, 1830, and lo-
cated in Greenville. He carried on the
boot and shoe business for William Martin.
Sr., and continued with him about five
months, when he returned to his mother, in
Montgomery county, where he remained
until 1833, when, on January 24th, of the
same year, he was united in marriage with
Elizabeth Martin, daughter of Christopher
and Elizabeth Martin. Sr. They were born
at Sewickley, Pennsylvania, came to Ohio
in 1814, and located in Butler county in
1815, settling about five miles east of Green-
ville. After raising a large family of chil-
dren they moved to Greenville, where they
lived and died. Mr. Bireley. in May, 1833,
came back to Greenville and entered upon the
manufacture of earthenware, which occupa-
tion he followed for twenty-eight years, do-
ing an extensive business. He then bought a
farm of one hundred and fifty acres, one
mile out of the corporation of Greenville,
and in 1851 he moved his family to this
farm. In 1858 he sold this farm and bought
another, five miles east of Greenville, upon
which several quarries of limestone were lo-
cated. He engaged in the manufacture of
lime and continued at this business until
January, 1880, when he rented the place
to Martin Smith and Emanuel Hershey for
five years, receiving four hundred dollars
yearly, or two thousand dollars for the five
years. In 1870 Mr. Bireley moved from the
farm into Greenville, where he resided for
a number of years, or until the expiration of
the above lease, when he moved back on the
farm, where he resided at the time of his
death, and where his widow now resides with
her daughter, Mary R. Mr. Bireley was
the father of ten children, seven of whom
are now living: Henry P., Elizabeth E.,
William W., Barbara C., Harry H, Wade
G., all married and settled in life, and Mary
R., the youngest, who remains at home with
her mother. Mr. Bireley united with the
Methodist Episcopal church in 1835, lived a
consistent Christian life and the record he
has left here upon the pages of time is surely
a worthy example for all future generations
to follow.
JOHN WHARRV.
John Wharry, surveyor, lawyer and
judge, Greenville, Ohio, was born in what
is now Juniata county, Pennsylvania, No-
vember 27, 1809. His parents were James
and Margaret ( Crorie ) Wharry, the former
born in Juniata county, Pennsylvania, July
30, 1780, the latter in Frederick county,
Maryland, February 7, 1780. They came
to Ohio in 1810. and after spending
two years in Butler county, settled in
Columbus, in December, 1812, at which
time there were only three log cabins on
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
239
the present site of that city. In the sum-
mer of 1 812 he was a. member of General
Findley's regiment that was sent to Detroit
to assist General Hull, but he was taken sick
on the march and was compelled to return
home. His occupation was that of a car-
penter, and he made the desks for the first
state house in the city of Columbus. He
died in that city March 19, 1820. His
widow died in Richmond, Indiana, in May,
1848. In 1824 our subject, then a lad of
fifteen years of age, came to Greenville,
Ohio, and for several years was engaged as
a store clerk. He obtained a very fair math-
ematical education, with some knowledge of
Latin. By assisting at the work of survey-
ing and by personal application he obtained
sufficient knowledge to become a practical
surveyor, and engaged in this business from
1 83 1 to 185 1, for most of which time he
filled the position of county surveyor. In
the fall of 185 1 he was elected probate judge
of Darke county and served three years.
In the spring of 1855 he was admitted to the
practice of law. having previously read un-
der the late Judge John Beers, of Greenville,
Ohio. April 21, 1838, he married Miss Eliza
Duncan, of Warren county, Ohio, who bore
him ten children. Mrs. Wharry died De-
cember 6, 1868. Until the passage of the
Kansas-Nebraska bill, in 1854, Judge Whar-
ry was a Jacksonian Democrat, but from that
time until his death he was a Republican.
He was endowed with a remarkable memory
and at the time of his death had, doubtless,
the best recollection of early events of any
man in Darke county. He was a member
of the County Pioneer Association. For
thirty years he had been connected with the
Presbyterian denomination. He was one of
the best draftsmen in the county, and an ex-
cellent penman, his records in the depart-
14
ment of the interior, in Washington city,
being pronounced unexcelled. He was a
fine surveyor, a good legal counselor, a su-
perior business man, and a much respected
citizen. Two of his sons served through
the late war — James Wharry as captain and
Kenneth as assistant surgeon.
D. H. R. JOBES.
D. H. R. Jobes, lawyer, judge of pro-
bate and teacher, was born in Montgomery
county, Ohio, September 14, 1829, and died
in Greenville, Ohio, January 13, 1877. He
was a man of noble traits of character. His
parents being poor he was early thrown
upon his own resources, but by a faithful
improvement of limited privileges obtained
a good English education, and for a num-
ber of years followed the occupation of a
teacher. In October, 1857, he was elected
probate judge of Darke county and served
nine years, during which time he devoted
his spare time to reading law under the di-
rection of D. L. Meeker, of Greenville, Ohio,
and was admitted to practice in January,
1867. He formed a partnership with his
preceptor and so continued until 1872. On
January 1, 1875, ' le formed a law partner-
ship with C. M. Anderson, of Greenville,
which was dissolved by the death of Mr.
Jobes. He was cut down in the meridian
of life, and in the height of the practice of
his profession. His death was the occasion
of an unusually cordial action on the part
of the members of the GreenVille bar, in
resolutions and speeches expressive of deep
regret at his demise, tender sympathy for
his bereaved family, and exalted apprecia-
tion of his moral worth. On this occasion,
among other remarks, J. R. Knox, Esquire,
said : "During the nine years of service as
probate judge, I had frequent occasion to ap-
240
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
pear before him and observe his conduct
in that capacity, and I take pleasure in this
solemn hour, as I have always done, to say
that as by law recognized next friend of the
widow and guardian of the orphan — the
highest and most sacred trust which the law
imposes upon that officer — and in the vari-
ous duties of his position, he was a careful,
impartial and vigilant accountant, and de-
serving the honored name of a just and up-
right judge. As a practitioner at the bar,
none stood fairer than he. We had not
among us a more diligent office lawyer, nor
any safer or more thoughtful counselor or
adviser than Judge Jobes; and when he ad-
dressed himself to the court and jury the
weight of his character for integrity and
fairness made his appeals forcible and in-
fluential, carrying conviction." C. M. An-
derson, Esquire, a law partner of the de-
ceased, as well as formerly his pupil, said :
"His was a mind that did not require the
light of precedents. He was a chancellor
by nature, and only needed the advantages
of an early education in the law to have
marked him as one of the foremost and most
powerful jurists of his time." Judge Will-
iam Allen reverted to the fact that the in-
tegrity, the honor, the moral worth and no-
bility of heart which made him pre-eminent
as a public officer and private citizen during
his maturer years were the graces that
adorned his life in his earlier years. Dur-
ing the three consecutive terms he held the
office of probate judge of this county no
lawyer nor litigant ever called in question
his integrity as an officer or doubted the
honesty of his motives. David Beers, Es-
quire, said : "In boyhood and manhood, he
ever pursued a moral, upright, honorable
course which gave him a deserved and en-
viable position in society." C. G. Matchett
said : "His many virtues and great worth
are best expressed by the couplet,
'None knew him but to love him.
None named him but to praise.' '
He left a wife and two sons. Mrs. Jobes
is a lady of talent, a leader in the Christian
church of Greenville, and an active worker
in moral and religious enterprises. She is
a daughter of Isaac and Sarah Reed, of
Darke county, Ohio, and was married to Mr.
Jobes May 6, 1858. Her father died Jan-
uary 18, 1871, aged sixty-two. He was
one of the pioneers of Darke county, kind
and obliging in disposition, a good neighbor
and a Christian gentleman. He was re-
spected by all who knew him.
GABRIEL MIESSE.
Gabriel Miesse, physician and surgeon,
Greenville, Ohio, was born in Berks coun-
ty, Pennsylvania, March 26, 1807, and died
in Greenville some time ago. His parents,
Jacob and Catherine (Dundor) Miesse, were
both natives of the same county. Indica-
tions of superior mental energy and prac-
tical talents were developed in the person of
our subject at an extremely early age. His
education was begun when he was a mere
child and was conducted chiefly under the
direct superintendence of a private teacher,
Dr. Charles Ouinedon, a finely cultured
physician from Prussia. This instruction
was supplemented by an attendance upon
lectures at the medical college in Philadel-
phia. His beginning in life was very hum-
ble. He left Philadelphia on foot, with a
few surgical instruments, a small stock of
medicines and a few dollars in money, to
seek a location. On a pleasant mid-summer
day he found himself about one hundred
miles west of the city, and weary and dis-
heartened he sat down to examine the con-
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
241
tents of his purse, when to his surprise and
mortification he found it contained but sev-
enty-five cents. Being an entire stranger,
"in a strange land," and without any pros-
pect of location, he was on the verge of de-
spair, but having been religiously educated
he resolved to appeal to the source of in-
fiinite wisdom for direction, and falling
upon his knees offered a fervent prayer for
guidance. To his great astonishment, on
rising from his position a voice responded,
"All right, sir !" His eyes rested on the per-
son of an old gentleman but a few steps dis-
tant, who had providentially been passing
by and whose attention had been arrested
by the actions and prayer of the young
stranger, and through the assistance of this
"friend in need," he was introduced into
the community and rapidly obtained an ex-
tensive practice. In the spring of 183 1 he
located near Lancaster, Fairfield county,
Ohio, and on August 24, 1832, married
Mary Wiest, whose father, Jacob Wiest, had
moved there from Pennsylvania. In 1S4S
Dr. Miesse settled in Greenville, Darke
county, Ohio, and by application and per-
severance in the years previous to his death
he acquired an enviable reputation as a good
citizen, an eminent practitioner of medicine
and a distinguished surgeon. Notices of
his remarkable cures and delicate experi-
ments in surgery frequently appeared in the
public prints and in medical journals of the
west. The Doctor had always been a tem-
perate man, "after the strictest sect," and
never used ardent spirits or tobacco. He
claimed a number of important discoveries
in medical science. One, in search of which
he had been more or less engaged for many
years, was the cause of that fatal malady
known as sick stomach, or milk-sickness,
and which annually resulted in the loss of
thousands of valuable animals and in great
sacrifice of human life. The cause of and
remedy for this disease he believed he had
discovered, and said that a few days atten-
tion to it, if known by farmers, would be
sufficient to eradicate this poison from any
ordinary-sized farm. He did not live long
enough to bring this matter before the public,
to have his discovery of the origin of the
disease and the remedy thoroughly tested.
Dr. Miesse possessed a highly cultivated,
esthetic taste, and his cabinet of relics,
curiosities, etc., would in its size and choice
selection have done credit to a university.
Among the finely executed works of art that
at one time adorned the walls of his parlors
were some that were the handiwork of his
accomplished wife, and one in particular, an
oil painting, would compare favorably with
the finest specimens of professional artists.
His family comprised eight children. His
oldest son. Dr. Gabriel Miesse, Jr., of Lan-
caster, Ohio, is distinguished as a physician
and surgeon, and possesses rare musical
qualifications. His third son, Dr. Americus
Miesse, is a prominent physician of Lima,
Ohio. His youngest son, Dr. Leon Miesse,
is a noted physician and surgeon of Chicago,
Illinois. Three of his daughters are now
widows, Priscilla, widow of John Harper,
a gifted photographer; Sophia, widow of
A. F. Koop, a successful hardware mer-
chant, and at the time of his death cashier
of the Second National Bank, of Greenville,
Ohio; and Mary, widow of the late Dr.
Jacob L. Sorber, who at one time represented
the Ross county district in the Ohio senate.
Dr. Sorber was a thorough physician, a dis-
tinguished surgeon, and was by Governor
Tod commissioned to serve professional^ in
the late war of the Rebellion. He designed
and constructed a planetarium for illustrat-
242
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
ing the movements of the various planets
of the solar system, and including the peri-
odical visits of certain comets. Lanassa is
the wife of J. K. Turner, a dealer in real
estate, and Hirondo has for a number of
years been truant officer of Greenville.
PHILIP ALBRIGHT.
Philip Albright was born in North Caro-
lina, in the year 1797, and emigrated to the
state of Ohio in 1818, settling on Twin
creek, in Harrison township, Preble count}'.
He remained here until the year 1822, when
lie removed to east Tennessee, settled in An-
derson county, and cleared a farm. He
remained there, following the occupation of
a farmer, until the year 1835, when he re-
turned to Ohio, ami settled in Twin town-
ship in Darke county, in what is now known
as the fertile "Painter Creek" valley, not
far from the town of Arcanum. He was
one of the early settlers in this locality, and
having a large family of eight boys and
four girls, soon had a fine farm in a good
state of cultivation. Mr. Albright was a good
mechanic and led all others as a builder of
houses ami barns, both frame and stone.
He was one of the leading stone masons of
Darke and Preble counties, and lived to
witness the wonderful change of the dense
fi irests t< ' the fertile fields, and the mud roads
to the finely graveled and macadamized
pikes, and he saw the building of the rail-
road, and the thriving village of Arcanum,
Gordon and Pittsburg spring up in his lo-
cality as if by magic. He was universally
respected, and died in his eighty-fourth
year. He was an extraordinary man, physi-
cally large and strong, and strictly temperate
in his habits, liberal to the needy, foremost
in all public gatherings where physical
strength and endurance were in requisition,
ami by his influence and example he induced
many to live sober and exemplary lives.
Notwithstanding the fact that schools were
poor and continued in session only a few
months of the year, he had in his family
among his sons three regularly ordained
ministers of the gospel, and seven of his
children followed, successfully, the occu-
pation of teaching. One of his sons, men-
tioned elsewdiere, was killed in the late Civil
war. Mr. Albright was not only an advo-
cate of temperance, but he lived a consistent
Christian life, and died in the full hope of a
blessed immortality. .
MILITARY.
We think it appropriate to introduce in
this connection a few thoughts relative to
Darke county's soldiers of the war of the
Rebellion. On April 24, 1861, three volunteer
companies, enlisted for three months, had
left the county for the seat of war. Two of
these were from Greenville, led by Captains
J. W. Frizell and J. M. Newkirk, and one
from Union City, led by Captain Jonathan
Cranor. These were followed in quick suc-
cession by many others, and all in any way
familiar with Darke county know that she
did her duty nobly. The enlistments in the
fall of 1 86 1 were for three years. On Oc-
tober 28, 1 861, the ladies of Greenville met at
the court house and organized as "The La-
dies' Association of Greenville for the Relief
of the Darke County Volunteers." Public
meetings were held at various points, and
on November 6 it was reported that the coun-
ty had turned out two hundred volunteers
within twenty days. Letters came from men
in the held, some containing the sad tidings
of the death of a soldier, who fell nobly
fighting for his country. Among these
noble men we may mention Colonel J. W.
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
243
Frizell, who led one of the first companies
into the field as its captain. He was soon
made lieutenant-colonel of the Eleventh
Ohio, and when the colonel of this regiment,
having incautiously exposed himself, was
captured, the command devolved upon Lieu-
tenant-Colonel Frizell. Resigning this po-
sition, he was afterward appointed colonel
of the Ninety-fourth Ohio, and while gal-
lantly leading his regiment in the battle of
Stone river he was severely wounded and
compelled to resign his position on account of
his injuries. He died at his home in Green-
ville, Ohio, a few years ago.
Jonathan Cranor, who entered the ser-
vice as captain of a company in the three-
months service, afterward became colonel
of the Fortieth Ohio, served in that capac-
ity with distinction and died a few years
ago. We note that R. A. Knox was cap-
tain of a company of the Eleventh Ohio and
Charles Calkins, first lieutenant in the same
company, afterward captain in the Eighty-
seventh Ohio, both of whom are now de-
ceased. James B. Creviston served with
honorable distinction as adjutant of the
Fortieth Ohio. He followed the profession
of teaching after the war and died a few
years ago. William H. Matchett served as
assistant surgeon of the Fortieth Ohio, and
died at his home in Greenville, Ohio, in
August, 1898. C. G. Matchett entered the
service as sergeant in the three-months ser-
vice ; was afterward captain of Company G,
Fortieth Ohio, for awhile commanded the
regiment, was honorably mustered out of
service, followed the profession of law, .and
died a few years ago. A. R. Calderwood
entered the service as captain of Company
I, Fortieth Ohio ; resigned on account of
injuries received ; practiced law in Green-
ville ; was a noted criminal lawyer and died
at his home a few years ago.
James Allen was promoted to captain
while in the service, and is no longer among
the living- here. Clement Snodgrass served
as captain in the Fortieth, and was killed in
battle July 21, 1864. B. F. Snodgrass, also
a captain in the Fortieth, was killed in battle
September 20, 1864. Cyrenius Van Mater,
first lieutenant of Company G, Fortieth
Regiment, was killed at Chickamauga.
J. W. Smith, captain of Company I, For-
tieth Ohio, served with honor through the
campaigns of this regiment ; was honorably
mustered out of service at the close of the
war; carried on a livery business in Green-
ville after his discharge, and died at his
hi ■me a few years ago. Of the officers of
the Sixty-ninth Ohio, we mention Eli Hick-
ox, who went into the service with the
regiment as captain. For bravery on the
field of battle and meritorious conduct he
was promoted to major of the regiment;
was mustered out at the close of the war,
and died a few years ago, universally re-
spected. Color-Sergeant John A. Compton,
Lieutenants Jacob S. Pierson and Martin V.
Bailey, Corporal Daniel T. Albright, and
privates Stopher and four others fell in the
battle of Stone River. Color-Sergeant Allen
L. Jobes. after whom Jobes Post, G. A. R.,
Greenville, Ohio, is named, and five men
were killed at the battle of Jonesboro. Of the
Ninty-fourth Regiment Captain T. H. Work-
man and H. A. Tomlinson, second lieuten-
ant of Company F. have died since the war,
and Sergeant Leonard Ullery, of the Eighth
Ohio Battery, was killed in the service. In
addition to those already mentioned, we wish
to refer to Jacob W. Shivley, second lieuten-
ant of Company D, Sixty-ninth Regiment,
244.
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
who served his company gallantly as a sol-
dier, was honorably discharged and died
at his home in this county not long ago.
Jonathan Bowman, sergeant of Company D,
same regiment, was honorably discharged
and died in Greenville, Ohio, some years
ago. Isaac N. Arnold, sergeant of Company
E, same regiment, was honorably discharged ;
was candidate for probate judge on the Re-
publican ticket, and died at his father's home
near Jaysville, Ohio. Alexander McAlpin,
captain of Company G, Eighth Ohio Cavalry,
served in the army with distinction, was
honorably discharged and died shortly after
returning home. Of the One Hundred and
Fifty-second Regiment Ohio Volunteer In-
fantry, we note in addition to those men-
tioned elsewhere: Edwin B. Putnam, adju-
tant, practiced law after his discharge from
the army and died many years ago. Elias
Harter, captain, and C. B. Northrop, first
lieutenant of Company B, were honorably
discharged and are now deceased. A. H.
1 [yde, first lieutenant, and Harrod Mills, sec-
ond lieutenant of Company H, were honor-
ably discharged and are now dead. Walter
Stevenson, second lieutenant, Alfred Town-
send, first sergeant, and William Pearson,
sergeant of Company L, were all honorably
discharged and are now dead. Many others
oi our noble dead deserve honorable men-
tion here, but our knowledge of their per-
sonal history is too limited and uncertain
to enable us to do justice to their memory.
We will close this chapter by inserting
a paper read at the late banquet of the Green-
ville bar on the subject of Our Deceased
Members.
"It has been said that every person de-
parting this life leaves behind a record that
exerts an influence upon the lives of the liv-
ing to a greater or less extent, and as the
subject presented to us in this 'toast' is Our
Deceased Members outside of the influence
of personal recollections, which you all may
have, their records, if any, will be found in
the epitaph or biography they have left, and
to which we can refer and profit by the les-
sons they teach.
"A visit to our cemetery and the last
resting place of many of our members dis-
closed a dearth of information on this sub-
ject that is remarkable. Examining twenty-
six graves of our deceased members, while
we found quite a number who had entered
the military service of their country and had
given the best days of their lives to its pro-
tection and perpetuation, the company and
regiment to which a few of these only be-
longed are the only records engraved upon
their tombstones. But is not that simple
inscription as grand and enduring as any
that was ever made? It tells that the mem-
bers lying beneath that monument saw the
tide of victory roll backward and forward,
at times seeming to engulf all hopes for the
preservation of the Union, yet finally sweep-
ing onward in one grand, irresistible swell
to victory and peace. They saw the Union
preserved, the contending armies quietly re-
turning to their homes and a new reign of
peace and good will inaugurated. They
were personal actors in that drama which was
the most sublime and thrilling that human
pen can relate, and which points to but one
moral, that the institutions which -the}' knew
were worth fighting for so nobly are worth
preserving, that the Union which has cost
us so much blood and treasure, which has
brought us freedom and prosperity must be
cherished as the most precious possession we
can transmit to future generations.
"On this list of our country's defenders
we are proud to enroll the names of J. W.
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
245
Frizell, A. R. Calderwood, David and Theo-
dore Beers C. G. Matchett, Charles Calkins
and J. W. Sater. Inscribed on the monu-
ment of Hiram Bell is the following: 'Died
December 21, 1855.' He was a lawyer by
profession, represented this district in the
legislature of Ohio and in the congress of
the United States and his record is on high.
On the monument of D. H. R. Jobes is in-
scribed, 'Died January 13. 1877. To live in
hearts we leave behind is not to die.' On
that of Joseph McDonald, 'Died August 17,
1885. Farewell, my companions." These
are the only epitaphs we could find. Twelve
graves are not marked by monument, and on
twenty-three no epitaph. So sleep our de-
ceased brethren. Their work on earth is
done. With the labors and success of many
of them in the legal profession many of you
are familiar, and I could add but little to
that knowledge were I to make the effort.
Suffice it to say that we do not think any
of them were of that peculiar class of law-
yers of whom the great Master said. 'Woe
also unto you lawyers for ye lade men with
burdens grievious to be borne, and ye your-
selves touch not the burden with one of your
fingers.' From the epitaphs we pass to biog-
raphy and history and note extracts only con-
cerning those members who have left them
on record, and first that concerning David P.
Bowman, who died May 30, 1878. He was
entirely devoted to his chosen profession.
His knowledge of the law was both accurate
and profound. His preparation was thorough.
' He believed in the Bible and in the efficacy
of the attonement made on Mount Calvary.'
In the biography of William Allen we note :
'Mr. Allen, although he had risen from
poverty to affluence by his own unaided ex-
ertions, is one of the most charitable of our
citizens, and his integrity has never been
questioned ; his positive character, while it
wins friends true as steel, also makes bitter
enemies, but even his enemies conceded to
him great ability and unflinching honesty
of purpose. He represented this district in
the thirty-sixth and thirty-seventh congress-
es of the United States, being elected in the
fall of 1858 and again in i860.
"Of the Hon. D. L. Meeker it is said :
'He is one of the most highly respected citi-
zens in Darke county and his repeated calls
to the highest office in the gift of the people
of this county is an index of the universal
esteen in which Judge Meeker is held in this
section of Ohio.'
"Of J. W. Sater it is written : 'While
on the bench he had the well deserved rep-
utation of being one of the most able judges
who ever held court in this district.'
"Of A. R. Calderwood it is said: 'He
is endowed with superior natural abilities,
which have been developed by industrious
personal application; he stands in the front
ranks of his profession and is one of the
best criminal and jury lawyers in the state.'
"Of Charles Calkins we write: It was
accorded to him unanimously by' the Green-
ville liar that he was the most able, con-
ceptive, decisive and successful lawyer in
this section of Ohio.
"Of J. E. Breaden, Jr. : He attended
law school at Cincinnati and having read law
was admitted in January, 1879.
"L. B. Lot represented Darke county one
term in the legislature.
"C. G. Matchett : 'He entered the service
immediately after the firing on Sumter and
remained till the close of the war. In [865
he resumed the practice of law in Greenville
and stands prominent in the profession.'
246
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
"J. T. Meeker, admitted to the bar in
1873, was probate judge seven years; retir-
ing, he entered upon the practice of law.
"Of Swan Judy it is said: 'With the
natural ability, high legal education, force
of character, honest and pure determination
that he possesses (health permitting) he is
surely destined to reach the summit of his
profession within the near future.'
"In the action taken by this bar relative
to the death of J. R. Knox occurs the fol-
lowing: 'He despised a court or jury that
was not unsullied. He left the world better
for having lived therein and his upright life
and noble virtues will survive him for the
emulation of all who knew him.'
"We note on our list twenty-six de
ceased members, many of whom have left
us no written biography or epitaph, and our
knowledge of their qualifications and success
in the profession is too limited to even ven-
ture a statement. Their lives are before us
and we are susceptible in a greater or less
degree to their influence, and we believe th?
influence never dies. No thought, no word,
no act of man ever dies. They are as im-
mortal as his own soul. Somewhere in this
world he will meet their fruits. Somewhere
in the future life he will meet their gathered
harvest, it may be and it may not be a pleas-
ant one to look upon. Take care of your in-
fluence, consecrate it tn virtue, to humanity,
and our lives will be like a star o-]Jtterin°-
in its own mild lustre, undimmed by the
radiance of another. Earth is not man'-.
only abiding place. This life is not a bubble
cast upon the ocean of eternity to float an-
other moment upon its surface and then sink
into nothingness and darkness forever. N< >.
the rainbow and clouds come over us with
beauty that is not of earth, and then pass and
leave us to muse on their faded loveliness.
The stars which hold their festival around
the midnight throne, and are set above the
grasp of our limited faculties, are forever
mocking us with their unapproachable glory,
and our departed brethren, we trust, are now
enjoying those high and glorious aspirations
that are born in the human heart, but are not
satisfied in this life.
"Brethren, we are born for a higher des-
tiny than that of earth. There is a realm
where the rainbow never fades, where the
stars will spread out before us like the islands
that slumber on the ocean, and where the
beautiful impressions that here pass before
us like visions will stay in our presence f< r-
ever. This is that far-away home of the
soul, where hill and dale are enriched by
divine liberality, the inhabitants clothed in all
the beauties of moral perfection, every so-
ciety cemented by the bond of friendship and
brotherhood, and displaying all the virtues
of angelic natures. May we not trust that
our departed members are now inhabitants
of that home, where the storms of this life
never beat."
JACOB T. MARTZ.
Jacob T. Martz, lawyer and educator,
Greenville, Ohio, was born in Darke county,
Ohio, September 14, 1833. He is the son
of John Martz, who was born in Somerset
county, Pennsylvania, June I, 1798, settled
in Darke county in 1829, and died at the
home of his son, January 5, 1883, aged
eighty-four years, seven months and four
days. His wife. Barbara Hardinger, the
mother of our subject, and a native of Bed-
ford count)-, Pennsylvania, died in 1841.
Jacob T. Martz attended the Ohio Wes-
leyan University, at Delaware, at which in-
stitution he was graduated in June. 1856.
J c7. % JLoaXi~
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
247
During the nine succeeding years he was en-
gaged in teaching, and superintending the
schools of Greenville. During part of this
time, and while engaged in teaching, he also
read law under Judge D. L. Meeker, and
was admitted to the bar in June, i860. In
March, 1865, he resigned the superintend-
encv of the Greenville school and funned a
law partnership with the Hon. J. R. Knox.
In August, 1865, he was appointed receiver
of the Cincinnati & Mackinaw Railroad
Company, which work occupied his time for
nearly five years. In 1871 the superintend-
encv of the Greenville school was tendered
to him without his solicitation. This he
accepted, but at the end of that school year
he asked to be relieved by the board of edu-
cation from further supervision of the
school, but his work had been done so well,
having brought the schools out of a state of
chaos, as it were, to one of order and effi-
ciency, that the board prevailed upon him
to continue his good work, which he did for
seventeen consecutive years, and closed his
labors as superintendent on the 1st of June,
188S. In this year the enumeration in the
district was twelve hundred and eleven, and
the enrollment in the school for the year was
ten hundred and ninety-eight, showing that
ninety-one per cent of the entire enumera-
tion was enrolled upon the school registers,
while in efficiency the school stood second
to none in the state. Under his supervision
he saw the school grow so steadily that the
corps of teachers was increased from four
to twenty-two. When he took charge of
the school there was no laboratory, no ap-
paratus and no geological cabinet, except a
few ordinary specimens, but, in June, 1888,
over six hundred dollars had been expended
for educational and philosophical apparatus
of various kinds, and there was a large and
convenient laboratory arranged with all the
modern conveniences, geographical maps
and globes, and physiological charts, en-
abling the teacher to illustrate and explain
all the modern methods of teaching, together
with a human skeleton procured, prepared
and mounted by Mr. Martz and the janitor
of the old school building, and which they
have kindly permitted to remain in the labor-
atory, for the benefit of the students in phys-
iology and hygiene. The cabinet containing
various specimens of value, including the
bones of the mastodon found in this county,
and which are in a remarkable state of preser-
vation, are the result of Mr. Martz's personal
purchase and labor. During all these years,
modern methods of teaching and govern-
ment were introduced by the superintendent
and adopted by the teachers, so that tardiness
was measurably controlled by the teacher,
and truancy, except in a few chronic cases,
was almost a thing of the past. Order, sys-
tem and good government prevailed in all
the rooms and in the deportment of pupils,
while improper language was seldom heard
on the play-grounds, and so potent was the
influence of the superintendent in maintain-
ing order and decorum among the pupils on
the play-ground that it became the pride of
all, even the most combative element among
the boys, the moment they reached the school-
grounds to stand upon their good behavior.
The high school course of study contained
no more branches than could be mastered by
every pupil of ordinary intelligence in the
five years given to complete the same, while
the elocutionary drill and composition writ-
ing, in all the grades in which they were
taught, strengthened the memory and exer-
cised the reasoning faculties to the great
248
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
benefit of the pupils. No partiality was
shown in these exercises as all were expected
to clo their part.
The method of graduation from the high
school was Mr. Martz's suggestion and it has
been adopted by at least four union schools
in this county, and the one hundred and four
alumni, all graduated under his supervision,
speak of good order, management and effi-
ciency of the school. Superintendent Martz
with two other teachers organized the Darke
County Teachers' Association in 1859, and
though for several years it struggled for ex-
istence, yet by his untiring energy and en-
thusiasm for its success it increased in num-
bers and interest almost beyond expecta-
tion. During the greater part of this time
he presided over its deliberations. He was
also a member of the board of county school
examiners for about twenty-two years, and
assisted greatly in advancing the qualifica-
tions of the teachers in the county.
He has also taken an active part in devel-
oping the resources of the county, and was
for six years secretary of the Darke County
Agricultural Society, and was mainly in-
strumental in selling the old grounds of the
society and purchasing the large and com-
modious grounds it now owns. For eight
years he was secretary of the first building
association organized in this county; having
closed out the same, and he has been for
more than eight years secretary of the larg-
est company of the kind now doing business
in the county. Mr. Martz has always mani-
fested a deep interest in the moral and relig-
ious influences in the county, has for a long
time been identified with the Methodist Epis
copal church, has been superintendent of the
Sabbath school for a number of years, and
for more than eight years has been record-
ing steward of its official board. For the
past years he has been associated with his
law partner of 1865 and the mayor of the
city of Greenville in the legal profession.
Fie has also assisted in all the local enter-
prises that were intended to advance the pub-
lic good ; has been associated with the trus-
tees of the Greenville cemetery as their sec-
retary since 1865, and assisted in bringing
about that order and system which has re-
sulted in beautifying, adorning and enlarg-
ing those grounds to meet the public wants.
On September 19, i860, he married Miss
Esther M., daughter of James H. Jamison, of
Delaware, Ohio, with issue of four sons :
John H., born November 8, 1861 ; Adel-
bert, born September 28, 1868; James J.,
born May 8, 1872, and Benjamin F., born
December 18, 1874. John H. is married
and is engaged in farming and raising fine
registered stock. Adelbert is also married
and is "teller of the Greenville Bank. James
J. is a teacher in the Greenville high school,
and Benjamin F. is engaged in farming his
father's place.
WILLIAM COX.
In the year 18 16 the Cox family was
founded in Darke county, and through the
intervening years the name has been insep-
arably interwoven with the history of this
locality on account of the prominent part
its representatives have borne in the devel-
opment and progress of this section of the
state. It is therefore with pleasure that we
present to our readers the record of William
Cox, who is known as a successful and highly
esteemed agriculturist of Washington town-
ship. His grandparents, Jacob and Eve Cox,
were the first of the name of whom we have
authentic record. They had eight children,
and in 1816 the entire family emigrated west-
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
249
ward to Darke county, Ohio, from Fayette
county, Pennsylvania. A settlement was
first made in the northeast portion of German
township, and they were among the first to
take up their abode in what was then an al-
most unbroken wilderness. The trip from
Pennsylvania had been made with teams and
wagons, and often they had to mark out a
road for themselves or follow an old Indian
trail. There in the midst of the woods Mr.
Cox, assisted by his children, made a small
clearing and erected a rude log cabin, in
which they began life on the frontier in true
pioneer style. Of sturdy and courageous
spirit, they were well prepared to meet the
hardships of such a life and in a short time
they had a portion of their land under culti-
vation. Year by year the cleared tracts were
enlarged and improved, and when Mr. Cox
passed to his final rest the home farm pre-
sented every appearance of thrift and pros-
perity and was regarded as one of the valu-
able properties of this section of the state.
The land was inherited by his son, Henry
Co'x, who shortly afterward disposed of it
and removed to Missouri, but when a few
years had passed he returned to Ohio, taking
up his abode in Miami county, near Pleasant
Hill, where he spent his remaining days.
The other two sons of the family, Jacob
and Martin, came to Washington township,
Darke county, after the death of their father,
and were the first white men to enter claims
in his locality. Jacob Cox, Jr.. the father
of our subject, was born in Fayette count}',
Pennsylvania, on the 14th of July. 1887, and,
as before stated, came west with his people,
living with them in German township until
1 81 7, when he and his brother removed to
Washington township. They took up ad-
ji lining claims, and the first cabin was erected
where the home of Samuel Cole now stands.
In that little home both brothers with their
families lived for some time, or until a cabin
could be erected on the land owned by Jacob
Cox, now the property of his son, William.
The little pioneer home stood on the site of
the present handsome residence, and in this
rude domicile, the second one to be erected
in Washington township, the sturdy pioneer
family began life in the midst of the forest.
With characteristic energy the father con-
tinued to clear away the trees and trans-
formed the tract into rich and fertile fields.
He was a man of undaunted energy and per-
severance, and soon a valuable farm indi-
cated what may be accomplished by people
of determined purpose who are not afraid
to meet the obstacles and difficulties in their
path. At the time of his death Jacob Cox
owned four hundred and eighteen acres of
valuable land, and was considered one of the
most prominent and successful farmers and
influential citizens of Darke county. In
the early days the Indians often camped in
a small ravine near his home, but they were
friendly and occasioned no trouble to the
settlers. Jacob Cox married Elizabeth
Wise, who was a native of Hardy county,
Virginia, and removed to Ohio with her par-
ents, who afterward went to Indiana, where
they spent their last days. Twelve children
were born to Mr. ami Mrs. Cox: Jesse,
who was born April 24, 1817, and died Sep-
tember 28, 1873; Job. who was born Feb-
ruary 8, 1819, and died September 28, 1834;
Hannah, who was born May 20, 1821, and
became the wife of Lorenzo Dixnn, their
home beino- now in Greenville township,
Darke county; Samuel, who was born Octo-
ber 7. 1823, and died April 16, 1840: Mar-
tin, who was born June 20, 1826. and died
December 14, 1876; Jacob, who was born
January 2, 1829, and died on the 22. 1 of Oc-
250
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
tober of the same year ; Alary, who was born
August 17, 1830, and is the wife of Philip
Rodgers, of Washington township; John,
born March 17, 1833; Eliza Jane, who was
born February 26, 1835, and is the wife of
Samuel Van Fleet, of Washington town-
ship; a daughter who was born in 1S36 and
died before being named: Israel, who was
born June 22, 1838, and died in 1889: and
William, the immedite subject of this review.
Jacob Cox, the father of these children,
was a stanch supporter of the Baptist church
and a consistent Christian gentleman. He
exercised his right of franchise in support of
the men and measures of the Democracy and
earnestly advocated its principles, but was
never an aspirant for political honors. He
died April 3, 1842, and his estimable wife,
surviving him many years, passed away
in 1877. Both were honored and respected
1))' all who knew them, and when they were
called to the home beyond their loss was
mourned not only by many relatives but
throughout the entire neighborhood, for all
who knew them were their friends. Upon
the farm on which he settled in 181 6 Mar-
tin Cox, the brother of Jacob, lived up to
the time of his death, in 1856.
In taking up the personal history of Will-
iam Cox we present to our readers the life
record of one who is widely and favorably
known in Darke county. He was the
youngest child in his father's family, and was
born in the hewed-log house which is still
standing on the farm that is yet his home,
his natal day being January 2j, 1841. The
old log cabin is now used for storage pur-
poses, and stands as a mute reminder of pio-
neer days, and the habits of life at that time.
His school advantages were somewhat lim-
ited, but he mastered the elementary branches
of the English language in the district
schools of the neighborhood, and by expe-
rience and observation has added greatly to
his knowledge. His training at farm labor
was not meager, for as soon as old enough
to handle the plow he began work in the
fields, and was thus largely engaged from
the time of spring planting until crops were
garnered in the autumn. Upon attaining
his majority he came into possession of a
portion of his father's estate. He has al-
ways carried on general farming, and for
years has made it a practice to manufacture
maple syrup and sugar on an extensive scale,
disposing of this product to regular cus-
tomers in Greenville. He has a large sugar
camp and the excellence of the product en-
ables him to secure a ready market therefor.
In 1892 he erected upon his farm a fine,
modern residence, and near by stands good
outbuildings. The place is neat and thrifty
in appearance, and the owner is recognized
as one of the practical and progressive agri-
culturists of his community.
' On the 22d of August, 1872, was cele-
brated the marriage of Mr. Cox and Miss
Margaret A. Van Fleet, daughter of John
D. and Mary (Fradmore) Van Fleet. This
family came from New Jersey to Ohio at an
earl_\- day, locating in Washington township,
Darke county. Mrs. Cox is now the only
representative of the family living in the
county. By her marriage she has become
the mother of four children : Ory Newton,
who was born January 22, 1873, was mar-
ried December 20, 1898, to Miss Jennie,
daughter of William Young, of Greenville,
and they reside upon the old home farm ;
Harriet A., born November 5, 1874, is with
her parents; a son, born in 1876. died the
same year unnamed; and John Jacob, born
December 18, 1877, also resides at home.
In his political views Mr. Cox was a sup-
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
251
porter of Democratic principles for some
time, but now votes the Socialist ticket. He
holds membership in the Christian church.
He has neither time nor inclination for po-
litical office, but finds ample time to faith-
fully discharge every duty of citizenship.
He is a man of determined character, of
sterling worth and of inflexible integrity,
and among the residents of Darke county
he has a host of warm friends. He resides
upon one of the oldest developed farms in
Washington township, and is a worthy rep-
resentative of an honored pioneer family,
whose connection with the history of Darke
county has ever been creditable.
CHRISTIAN ERISMAN.
Among the pioneer familes of Darke
county, Ohio, were the Erismans. Jacob Eris-
man, the father, was a native of Pennsyl-
vania, and at the time of his emigration from
that state to Ohio, 1839, his family con-
sisted of wife and fifteen children. At that
time but little of the land in Adams township
had been cleared and the only improvements
on their claim consisted of a small clearing
and a little log cabin containing one room.
Not far distant was another log cabin and
in these two cabins and the wagons the fam-
ily slept at night. Another child was born
to this pioneer couple shortly after they
landed here, this being the eighteenth ; two
had died in Pennsylvania. The mother died
at the age of forty-six years, and the father
at the age of sixty-eight, both passing away
at the homestead. Of this large family only
five sons and one daughter are now living.
Christian Erisman, whose name heads
this sketch, was the fourth child and second
son, his birth occurring in Lancaster county,
Pennsylvania, December 24, 1820. At the
time of their removal to Ohio he was nine-
teen years of age. Strong and energetic,
he was his father's chief assistant in the work
of clearing and improving the farm and al-
ways resided upon it. This farm consists of
one hundred and sixty acres and is well im-
proved with good buildings and fences, all
of which have been placed here by the sub-
ject of our sketch.
Among the other pioneer families who
settled in this same locality was one that bore
the name of Long. Jacob Long and his
wife, whose maiden name was Catherine
Rinacker, were natives of Pennsylvania,
and were the parents of eleven children, the
third of whom was Catherine, born in Adams
county, Pennsylvania, near Gettysburg, Feb-
ruary 16, 1827. Her mother died in Penn-
sylvania, and when she was seventeen years
of age she came with her father and other
members of the family to Darke county,
where on the 6th of February, 1845, *' ie
became the wife of Christian Erisman.
Their union has been blessed with eleven
children, five of whom are living, namely:
Lizzie, Frank, Lewis, Cora and Arthur.
The youngest, Arthur, now has charge
of the farming operations at the old home
place.
The subject of our sketch was long affil-
iated with the Republican party and during
his earlier years took an active part in local
affairs, serving as township trustee, school
director and in other positions. For a period
of forty-five years he and his good wife
were consistent and respected members of the
Methodist Episcopal church, to which Mrs.
Erisman still belongs. He departed this
life August 23, 1900, and the funeral ser-
vices were held at the residence on Sunday
morning, August 26. by the Rev. Jesse Carr,
of Bradford, Ohio. His body was placed
252
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
in a most beautiful couch casket and laid
to rest in the old family cemetery on the
farm which he had owned and on which he
had so long lived.
CHARLES E. DUNKLE.
Charles E. Dunkle, who is in the United
States railway mail service, was born in the
city of Dayton, Ohio, December 10, 1866,
and is the eldest son of Simon P. and Mary
E. (Troutrnan) Dunkle. The Dunkle fam-
ily originated in Germany and the first
American ancestor, Peter Dunkle, came to
this country more than two hundred years
ago, locating in Lancaster county, Pennsyl-
vania, where he remained until his death.
The father of our subject was born in Penn-
sylvania, May 17, 1842. and was a son of
David and Anna (Freilich) Dunkle, who
also were born in the Keystone state. With
their family they cam'e to Ohio when their
son, Simon, was but eight years of age and
in this section of the country he was reared
to manhood. After obtaining his majority
he married Miss Mary E. Troutrnan, who
was born in Maryland, March 30, 1844, a
daughter of Michael and Rebecca (Holler)
Troutrnan, who were also natives of the same
state and came to Ohio at an early period
of its development. In 1867 the parents of
our subject removed with their family to
Gordon, Darke county, and later made a
permanent settlement at Greenville.
Charles E. Dunkle spent his boyhood
clays in Gettysburg and Greenville, where he
received the educational advantages afford-
ed by the public schools. His preliminary
course was supplemented by study in Gettys-
burg, Ohio, and later he engaged in teach-
ing school, for one term. He was appointed
as railway postal clerk on the 12th of No-
vember, 1887, his route being from Pitts-
burg, Pennsylvania, to St. Louis, Missouri,
over what is the Pittsburg, Cincinnati, Chica-
go & St. Louis Railroad. Later he was trans-
ferred to the Vandalia Road, which is his
present run. He has a force of eight clerks
under his control and is now occupying a
very important position, to which he has
steadily worked his way upward from a hum-
ble capacity.
On the 4th of May, 1893, Mr. Dunkle
was married to Miss Emma Kraus, daughter
of John G. and Anna C. (Gensley) Kraus,
residents of Covington, Miami county. She
was born May 30, 1875, and received her
education in the Greenville and Covington
schools and is a very cultured lady. They
now have one son, a bright boy of six years.
They occupy a fine residence on Washington
avenue and their pleasant home is celebrated
for its gracious hospitality. Mr. Dunkle is
a member of Greenville Lodge, No. 195,
I. O. O. F. His long connection with the
railway mail service well indicates both his
fidelity and his ability, and he is certainly one
of the most trusted employes in the mail
department.
ALFRED H. JUDY.
Alfred H. Judy, of Butler township, re-
sides at his home farm on section 21, and has
his office and store rooms at Castine. One
of the successful agriculturists of Darke
ci lunty, he annually does a thirty-thousand-
dollar business in farm machinery, vehicles
and harness.
A. H. Judy was born at Enon, Clark
county, Ohio, June 8, 1861. His father,
Samuel H. Judy, of Greenville, Ohio, was
born near Plattsburg, Clark county, Ohio,
December 23, 1821. He is a son of Jesse
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
253
and Nancy Judy, deceased, who were buried
in the family graveyard on the old Judy es-
tate near Plattsburg. Nancy Judy's maiden
name was Johnson. She was of Irish de-
scent ; small and beautiful, and famous as
both a horsewoman and a weaver in her day.
Jesse Judy, son of John Judy, was born in
Germany, in 1753. He came to the United
States landing in Virginia, and later went
td Kentucky, where he met the famous Dan-
iel Boone. Their friendship was lasting, but
John Judy crossed the Ohio where Cincin-
nati now stands and took up eighty acres of
land, exchanging a horse for the settler's
claim. Later he disposed of the land and
settled near Plattsburg, acquiring the estate
referred to. He married Phoebe Lamastrus.
She was born in Scotland, in 1760, and they
are buried in the grounds referred to above.
Samuel H. Judy was married to Miss Lydia
Wilson, May 21, 1847. She is the daughter
of Isaac and Mary A. (Coffield) Wilson,
who are deceased, their remains being in-
terred in the cemetery at Fairfield, Ohio.
Isaac Wilson was of English descent, came
to Ohio from Kentucky and located on the
farm east of Fairfield, Greene county. He
was a clear-headed dealer, a fine judge of
stock, and one of the successful fianciers of
his day. At his death, in 1864, he was one
of the wealthiest men in Greene county.
J M. Wilson, a grandson of Isaac Wilson,
and a fine type of the old Wilson stock, owns
the old homestead. Mary A. Coffield was
born in Ireland and emigrated to the United
States about 18 16. She was famous as a
weaver, and was one of the most charming
conversationalists and entertaining hostesses
of her day.
The subject's parents resided in Clark
county, Ohio, until 1867, when they pur-
chased of James Knoff what is now known as
the old Judy farm, east of Greenville, Ohio,
and moved there the same year. This they
improved from the forest to a snug home.
Eleven children were born to Samuel H. and
Lydia Judy. Three died in infancy, while
eight grew to man and womanhood, and are
known as follows : B. F. Judy, deceased, was
a well-known educator of this county. He
married Alice Meritt, of Miami county, who
with her son, John H. Judy, a fine promis-
ing young man, resides at Palestine, Ohio.
Swan Judy, deceased, was a member of the
Darke county bar, and a graduate of the Uni-
versity of Michigan, at Ann Arbor. He
married Lillie May Birch, of Darke county,
who with her son, Hawes Judy, resides in
Dayton, Ohio. Martha C. Judy married
Henry Worley, of this county, and they have
four children : Kittie and Mattie, who are
married; also a son, Luan Worley, who is
married ; while Clyde, the youngest, lives
with his parents. Rev. DeKalb Judy, a min-
ister in the Christian church, married Miss
Mollie Steele, of Camden, Indiana, and they
have three sons and one daughter: B. H,
A. H, Paul and Vera Judy. Ada Judy was
married to Michael Dwyre, one of the most
thorough master builders of Ohio and Indi-
ana, and they reside at Anderson, in the lat-
ter state. They have one child, Zola, a very
charming young lady. Justine Judy mar-
ried John Weimer, of the firm of A. Weimer
& Sons, millers of Greenville, Ohio. He is
one of the rising business men of this county.
They have one son. Hattie Judy married
Stephen Bard, of this county.
The subject's early days were spent as a
little spindle-shanked, white-headed boy,
running the woods and prairies over, with
a passionate fondness for the flowers and
beautiful stones or odd specimens of nature.
An early comprehensiveness of what he saw
254
GEXEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
and rend made gateways for pleasure on
every hand in the study of things about him.
so at his little duties, at fishing, trapping,
bathing, and in all the boys' pastimes of his
day, the mixture of acquiring knowledge and
work and play has been the means of devel-
oping in him a mind broad enough to grasp
the great things of the world and complete
enough to enter into the joys or sorrows of
the smallest child. Ambitious to excel in
evervthing he undertook, he was at the head
of his class in the old log schoolhouse at No.
9. Greenville township, and won the honors
of graduation in 1880, at the union school,
of Greenville, Ohio. After finishing his
course in 1880 he secured a clerkship with
Henry St. Clair in his retail house on Broad-
way, in Greenville. The duties of clerk were
not harmonious with his disposition and at
the end of four weeks he resigned his posi-
tion and engaged to teach the school at Con-
cord, east of Greenville; afterward he ac-
cepted the principalship of the schools at
Hillgrove, Ohio, thence went to District No.
5, in Butler township ; next he became prin-
cipal of the school at Castine, Ohio. His
schools were successes and many of his old
pupils are holding positions of honor and re-
sponsibility. For fifteen years he has held
the office of magistrate, and so earnest has he
been in promoting the ideas of arbitration
and compromise that years go by without
soiling a page in his docket. He has faith-
fully represented his party, the Democratic,
at county, district and state conventions. In
1899 he made the canvass of the county for
nomination to the office of representative.
There were five candidates in the field and
the best of good will abounded. The Hon.
Clem Brumbaugh was the successful man,
with Mr. Judy a close second. He is a bi-
metalist and an anti-imperialist.
While conducting the school in District
Xo. 5 the subject met Miss Jeanetta E. Cob-
lentz. she being one of his pupils at that
school, and a daughter of Harrison and Car-
oline Coblentz, whose biography will be
found elsewhere in this volume. Their
daughter, Jeanetta E., seems to have inher-
ited from her parents an abundance of their
many virtues and the sterling qualities of
those old baronial ancestors at Coblentz on
the Rhine. As a girl at home her bright and
winning ways were the light and sunshine
of the parental abode. As a scholar she was
ever apt and perceptive; gifted with a talent
for music, and richly endowed in language,
she entertained charmingly those about her.
Moreover, she has ever been a good counselor
and a ready helper. A lady in the fullest
sense of the term, it is not strange that she
was loved by all who knew her, and quite
natural that the teacher and pupil should
have a kindly regard for each other and that
the association should be kept up after
"school was out." and as a result the subject
and this charming lady were united in mar-
riage at the home of the latter, by Rev. Ches-
ter Briggs, February 16, 1884. The affairs
of housekeeping were begun in the old log
house in the center of the farm where they
now live. Time has been very good to them.
In 1892 they built one of the handsi imest res-
idences in the county. The fire fiend con-
sumed this in 1896, the family barely escap-
ing unhurt. Immediately they rebuilt, but
on a less pretentious scale, the home they
now enjoy. Mr. and Mrs. Judy have had
five children born to them: Eva. a sweet
little child born September 14. 1888, died
September 29. 1888. Edith Esther, born
October 11. 1890, is one of the brightest pu-
pils of her school, and although very young
is an expert pianist. She is a lover of the
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
255
beautiful and greatly resembles her mother;
Kate Caroline, born February 17, 1894,
reads all newspapers, plays the piano, and is
a jolly little sprite and a type of her father ;
Harrison Coblentz, born February 28, 1897,
is a shrewd little man, can read his primer,
and is a type of his father. These little
folks are polite and entertaining and favor-
ites with all they chance to meet. With the
advantages of these times at their hands a
bright future surely awaits them. Air.
Judy divides all. honors with his worthy help-
mate and their home is one of the most
'pleasant to be found, both being well-in-
formed people, although their lives have
been crowded with cares and years of hard
w ■( 'ik have been theirs, yet they have found
time to keep pace with the events of the day
and the developments that have gradually
put f' irth, so that their stock of knowledge is
such that the caller will find a very pleasing
and entertaining host and hostess. They are
members of the Otterbein class of the United
Brethren in Christ; and to their manage-
ment is due the fact that their class is able
to ask to be set off from the circuit to a sta-
tion. Many donations to different institu-
tions for good have been made by this \v< >r-
thy couple and their names will long be re-
membered by the recipients of their gener-
osity. The subject is a member of the order
of Knights of Pythias and of the Masonic
fraternity, and is in high standing with his
fellows and brothers. He is quite a fluent
speaker and his oratory has frequently been
commented upon and complimented. Al-
though reticent, when he does talk, as people
say, "it is worth hearing." For several
years he was a writer for the National Stock-
man, of Pittsburg, Pennsylvania. Many of
his articles were copied by the leading ag-
ricultural journals of the land. And now we
15
leave them in their cozy home, one of the
happiest, brightest families of this great
county.
JAMES McCABE.
For almost sixty years this gentleman
has been a resident of Darke county, Ohio,
and during this long period, which covers
nearly the whole span of the county's devel-
opment from a primitive state to its pres-
ent flourishing condition, he has been active-
ly interested in its progress. His upright
course in life commands the respect and
commendation of every one, and he is justly
entitled to prominent mention in the his-
tory of his adopted county.
Mr. McCabe was born near Franklin,
Warren county, Ohio, October 14, 1826,
and is a son of John McCabe, born August
31, 1798, a native of New Jersey and of
Scotch-Irish descent. The father grew to
manhood in his native state, and followed
the occupations of a carpenter and farmer.
About 181 7 he removed to Warren count}-,
Ohio, making the journey on foot, and there
he remained until 1842, when he came to
Darke county, locating in Neave township,
where he remained until his death, February
8, 1887, at the ripe old age of eighty-nine
years. He was three times married, his
first wife being Anna Yantilburgh, the
mother of our subject. She was a native of
Warren county, of which her parents were
pioneers, and it is supposed that they were
of lowland Dutch descent.
James McCabe is the second child and
oldest son in a family of five children, three
sons and two daughters, and is the only
one now living. During his boyhood he
pursued his studies in a primitive log school
house; and remained in his native county
256
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
until 1842. when he came with his parents to
Darke county, locating on a farm in Neave
township, which he helped his father to
clear and improve. At the age of nine-
teen he started out for himself, working by
the month for nine dollars. Having ac-
quired a good education he commenced
teaching school, in 1845, receiving his first
certificate from John Briggs, one of the
pioneers of the county. As they had no
printed forms at that time, the certificate was
all written. At that time the school houses
were all of logs, and most of them had
greased-paper windows and very rude fur-
nishings. His first school was in the Spring
Hill district, but was then called the Ohler
district. For eight years Mr. McCabe con-
tinued teaching, with good success, and
came to German township in 1852, having
charge of the school in Palestine, where the
Teaford twin boys were among his pupils.
In 1854 he turned his attention to farm-
ing on what is now known as the Armstrong
farm, where he remained two years, and then
bought the Weaver farm, now owned by Mr.
Philipi, on section 11, German township.
In 1863 he sold that place and moved to Pal-
estine, where he bought a half interest in a
mill, but sold out in 1871. He next formed
a partnership with Mr. Kester and bought
a saw-mill, which they conducted together
until 1874, since which time Mr. McCabe
has operated it alone and has met with good
success in this venture.
On the 10th of January, 1852, Mr. Mc-
Cabe was united in marriage with Miss Eba-
liah Wagoner, who was born October 26,
1823, a native of Neave township, this
county, and a daughter of George and Sa-
rah (Stephens) Wagoner, who were among
its pioneers. Mr. Wagoner was a pioneer,
and was in the war of 1812, being in the
surrender of Hull. By this union four chil-
dren were born, namely : Flora Bell, who
died in infancy ; Orlando, who married Anna,
the daughter of Dr. Stiles, of Greenville,
and now lives in Dayton, Ohio; Virgil, who
married Jennie Starbuck, of Dayton, and
they have five children : Roscoe, Hallie M.,
Bepo, Emma and Mary; and Ida May, who
is the wife of Eli Overman, of Dayton, and
they also have five children : Omer, Frank,
Mary, and Harry and Terry, twins. Con-
cerning Mrs. McCabe, we should add that
she lived with her parents until 1852; com-
ing to German township, she resided there
until her death, which took place July 26,
1899, when she had attained the age of
seventy-five years and nine months. She
died as she had lived, a member of the Uni-
versalis! church, and a consistent Christian,
believing in the fatherhood of God and the
brotherhood of man. The funeral sermon
on the occasion of her death was preached
by one of her dearest friends in the blessed
faith of her denomination, Rev. Thomas S.
Guthrie, now of Muncie, Indiana.
In early life Mr. McCabe was a Whig in
politics, but he assisted in organizing the
Republican party, in 1856, and has since
been one of its stanch supporters. He has
filled the office of township assessor and
township clerk many terms, and has always
taken an active and commendable interest in
public affairs. In 1864, during the civil
war, he enlisted in Company H, One Hun-
dred and Fifty-second Ohio Volunteer In-
fantry, and served one hundred days. He is
now an honored member of Reed Post, No.
572, G. A. R., in which he has served as
commander and is now filling the office of
chaplain, and he has also been a member of
the Independent Order of Odd Fellows for
some years, and the Universalist church.
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
257
He is widely and favorably known through-
out the county, and well, deserves the high
regard in which he is uniformly held.
JOHN G. FISCHBACH.
John G. Fischbach is now living retired
upon his farm of eighty acres on section 2J,
Allen township, Darke county. He is num-
bered among the valued residents of this lo-
cality that the fatherland has furnished to
the new world. He was born in Prussia,
Germany, on the 17th of April, 1829, and is
a son of Lawrence and Phillipina ( Metz-
ker) Fischbach. The father was born in
1778, and his wife was about twelve years
his junior. They were married about 1808,
and became the parents of nine children, all
born in Germany. The eldest child, a
daughter, was born about 18 12. There are
now three living children of the family :
Henry, who resides in Dayton, at the age
of eighty-one years; John George, of this
review; and Christina, the widow of Henry
Hass, of Dayton.
When but eighteen years of age the fa-
ther volunteered for service in the German
army in the Spanish war. He was a carpen-
ter and builder, and followed that pursuit
Loth in Germany and in the United States.
In 1832 he sailed with his family from
Bremen for America, but the vessel on which
they took passage was shipwrecked on a
sand bar by the captain, who wished to get
a heavy insurance. This was a most dia-
bolical act, which resulted in the death by
freezing of some thirty-nine of the emigrant
passengers. Our subject was at that time
a little child of only about three years. He,
too, was laid with the dead piled upon the
deck, but his sister saw the pulsations of his
neck and he was thus snatched from the
grave. He had, however, been so severely
burned that skin and flesh came off, but
life came back to him and he yet lives to
tell the wonderful tale. After enduring
many hardships, the family finally reached
America, and made their way to Dayton,
Ohio, where the father followed contract-
ing and building and became well-to-do.
He died March 21, 1857, at the age of sev-
enty-nine years, and his widow passed away
May 26, 1858, at the age of sixty-seven
years, their remains being interred in Wood-
land cemetery. They were members of the
Methodist church, and were respected Christ-
ian people.
John George Fischbach was reared in
Dayton and learned the shoemaker's trade,
which he followed to a greater or less ex-
tent until 1862. He was drafted for service
in the army in 1864, but was not accepted.
On the 3d of April, 1850, he was united in
marriage to Caroline Kimmel, who was born
in Germany, and their union has been blessed
with nine children : George, of Dayton,
who is married and has two sons and one
daughter ; Louisa, who died at the age of
fifteen months; Emma, who became the wife
of Lewis Sink and died at the age of thirty-
two years ; Edward, a resident of Horatio,
Darke county, who has a wife and seven
children ; Frederick Lawrence, who owns
and operates a farm near his father's ; Clara,
the wife of M. H. Burnhart, a farmer of Al
len township, by whom she has two chil-
dren; Sarah M., who died at the age of
three years ; William, who operates the home
farm and has a wife and three sons ; and
Arthur, who is still with his father. The
mother of these children was called to her
final rest January 19, 1892. She was a
faithful companion and helpmeet on life's
journey, was a loving wife and tender
258
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
mother, and throughout the community her
loss was deeply mourned.
In his business Mr. Fischbach has been
successful. He started out in life for him-
self at the age of eighteen years, and all that
he possesses has been acquired through his
own efforts. His has been an energetic and
industrious life, and these qualities have en-
abled him to overcome all difficulties and
work his way upward to a position of wealth,
and he is living retired.
HENRY LEPHART.
Henry Lephart is one of the representa-
tive German-American citizens of Darke
county, and is classified among the prosper-
ous farmers of Brown township. The name
Lephart is of German origin, and was spelled
Lepphardt or Liephardt. The father of our
subject, Augustus Lephart, was born in the
little duchy of Hesse-Cassel, on the 27th of
December, 1818, and is now living a retired
life in the city- of Greenville. He was edu-
cated in his native land, where he spent the
first eighteen years of his life, after which
he determined to seek a home and fortune
in the new world. He accordingly bade
adieu to the fatherland and the friends and
home of his youth and sailed for America in
the year 1836, taking passage on the sailing
vessel Henrietta, bound for Baltimore,
Maryland. Eight weeks and four days
passed ere they sighted land, for contrary
winds detained the vessel, but ultimately
they reached the Baltimore harbor in safety,
and Mr. Lephart landed in America, a
stranger among strange people, with whose
language he was unfamiliar. He had a
capital of only one dollar, but he possessed
strong determination and resolute will, and
with those essential qualifications of success
he started out to make his own way. He
soon secured work on a canal along the
James river, and was there employed for
four years.
He is a thrifty and industrious man,
qualities which have been inherited by his
children. Establishing a home in Pennsyl-
vania, he there resided for four years, and
about 1849 came with his family to Darke
county, Ohio, locating in German township,
where he was employed as a wage worker.
He remained for two years in German town-
ship, then known as Washington township,
after which he purchased eight}' acres of
land, of which about twelve acres had been
cleared and improved. His first home was
a log cabin, and a log barn gave shelter to
his stock. Mr. Lephart remained upon the
old family homestead until 1 886, and then
became a resident of Greenville. Through-
out the intervening years he had carried on
agricultural pursuits, and his untiring indus-
try and enterprise enabled him to add to his
possessions until he was the owner of a valu-
able farm of one hundred and sixtv acres
and a comfortable competence, which now
supplies him with all the necessities and
many of the luxuries of life. The thrift and
frugality which are cardinal characteristics
of the German race were ever manifest in
his business career, and he is also known as
a man of much resolution and decision of
character. In politics he has always been a
Democrat, save when in i860 he cast his
vote for Abraham Lincoln. He has never
held office, preferring to devote his time and
attention to his business interests. In his
religious views he is a Lutheran and has
been very liberal in his contributions to
church work, having aided in the erection of
five different churches in Darke county. He
gave material assistance to the church in
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
259
Greenville, and has withheld his support
from no benevolences worthy of considera-
tion. His life, honorable and upright, has
commanded the respect of all.
In Pennsylvania he was united in mar-
riage to Miss Katherine Estella Strukoff,
who was born near Hanover, Germany.
Her birth occurred in 1814, and her death in
1886. Her life was one of spotless Christ-
ian purity and her teachings have had
marked influence upon the lives of her chil-
dren, to whom her memory remains as a
grateful benediction. In the family of this
worthy couple were eight children, four sons
and four daughters, but only three are now
living, namely: Henry; Sarah, the wife of
Peter Blizzard, a prosperous agriculturist
of Champaign county, Illinois; and Will-
iam, who is married and is a successful
farmer of Washington township, Darke
county. He resides near the old family
homestead.
Henry Lephart was born July 15, 1843,
in Somerset county, Pennsylvania, and was
the second child in his father's family. He
was a little lad of six summers when he came
with his parents to Darke county, where he
was reared and educated. Throughout his
life he has been identified with agricultural
pursuits, and for nineteen years he also en-
gaged in the manufacture of brick, the prod-
ucts of its kilns being seen in many of
the most beautiful homes in Brown town-
ship. Several of the school-houses of the
neighborhood have also been erected from
brick manufactured by him, as was the
Greenville Bank. He had no special advan-
tages to fit him for life, receiving but a lim-
ited education in the public schools. The
first school he ever attended was held in a
log building in Washington township, the
dimensions of the structure being 16x20
teet.
The building" was covered with a
board roof, and was furnished with a box
stove, and slab benches formed of puncheons
with the flat side up, placed upon wooden
pins. The writing desk used by the big
boys and girls was a wide board resting upon
wooden pins driven into auger holes in the
wall. The discipline of the school was
maintained through fear of the rod and the
dunce-cap, and the old adage, '"Spare the
rod and spoil the child," found exemplifica-
tion in those primitive institutions of learn-
ing. Mr. Lephart remained with his par-
ents until he had attained his majority and
gave them his wages during the greater part
of the time. He received eighteen dollars
per month in compensation for his services,
and as one-half of this was turned over to
his father he had a small capital of his own
when he attained his majority, comprising
fifty dollars in money and a young horse.
He was, however, industrious and energetic,
qualities which form an important element
in a prosperous career.
On the 19th of November, 1863, Mr.
Lephart was united in marriage to Miss
Sarah J. Moyer. She was born in Darke
county, November 2, 1S43, a "d ' s t' ie sixth
in a family of ten children, three sons and
seven daughters, the parents being Michael
and Margaret (Etter) Moyer. Of their
family four daughters are yet living, three
being residents of Darke county, while one
sister, Margaret, is the wife of Jackson
Stump, an agriculturist of Oklahoma. The
parents are both deceased. The father was
born in Virginia, in 1812, and died in the
fall of 1865. He was of German lineage
and was reared as an agriculturist. His
parents entered one hundred and twenty
acres from the government during Martin
Van Buren's administration. His family
260
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
came to Ohio in an early day, when the In-
dians were still very numerous in this sec-
tion of the country, and deer and other kind
of wild game could be had in abundance.
Mr. Moyer was a typical Virginian, dis-
playing old-time courtesy and hospitality so
common in that state. He held member-
ship in the German Lutheran church. His
wife was born near Germantown, Ohio,
about i 817, and died about 1874. She was
e'ducated in the common schools, and was
a consistent Christian woman, who reared
her children in the faith of the church. Mrs.
Lephart, a daughter of this worthy couple,
has been to her husband a faithful counselor
and helpmate. She has a kind disposition
and affable manner, and is highly esteemed
by a large circle of friends.
Air. ami Airs. Lephart began their do-
mestic life in Washington township upon a
rented farm, for they had little of this
world's goods to aid them in making a start.
They removed to Brown township, where
they again rented land, and after spending
four years upon property belonging to others
Mr. Lephart was able to purchase, in connec-
tion with his sister, an eighty-acre tract that
had formerly belonged to their father. Dur-
ing the four years in which he rented he
had saved four hundred dollars, but in order
to make his purchase of land he had to in-
cur an indebtedness of four hundred dol-
lars. His first eighty-acre tract was forest
land, upon which not a ditch had been dug
nor an improvement made, save that there
was a little log cabin and a log barn. With
characteristic energy he began the further
development of the property, and soon trans-
formed the wild land into rich and fertile
fields. As his financial resources have in-
creased he has added to his property until
he is now, in 1900, the owner of three hun-
dred acres of valuable land in Brown town-
ship. His farm is supplied with all mod-
ern improvements and conveniences, includ-
ing splendid buildings, high-class machin-
ery and everything found upon a model
farm. His property stands as a monument
to his thrift and enterprise, and to the as-
sistance of his e'stimable wife. There are
two good residences upon the place, and the
land is in a good state of cultivation.
The home of Mr. and Mrs. Lephart has
been blessed with thirteen children, eight
sons and five daughters, and of this large
family eleven are yet living: Margaret A.,
who was educated in the common schools
and received instructions in music, is now
the wife of Henry Foreman, a farmer of
Allen township; Sarah Jane is the wife of
Finley Riffle, an agriculturist of Brown
township; William H. is married and lives
in Greenville, Ohio; John W.. who possesses
much natural mechanical ability and is a
practical carpenter and joiner, is also a pros-
perous farmer of Darke county; Charles A.'
is married and is employed as a mechanic
by the Panhandle Railroad Company; Peter
I. is married and follows blacksmithing in
Arcanum, Ohio ; Catherine Estella, who has
been instructed in music, is now the wife of
Hugh Westfall, the proprietor of a restau-
rant in Ansonia, Ohio; Augustus C. is mar-
ried, and follows farming in Brown town-
ship; Elizabeth A., who has also been in-
structed in music, has successfully passed
the Boxwell examination and is now at home
with her parents; Fred X., who possesses
considerable musical talent, passed the
Boxwell examination in 1900; and
James M., the youngest living mem-
ber of the family, is now a stu-
dent in the eighth grade in the public schools.
Mr. and Airs. Lephart have given their chil-
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
261
I
dren excellent educational privileges, realiz-
ing the importance of learning in the prac-
tical affairs of life. In his political senti-
ments our subject is a Democrat, and has
loyally supported the party of his choice
since casting his first presidential vote for
General George B. McClellan. He has fre-
quently been chosen as a delegate to sena-
torial and county conventions, and has ever
been firm in support of his honest convic-
tions. He is a public-spirited and progress-
ive citizen, giving his aid and influence to
all measures calculated to prove of public
benefit. For six years he has served as
school director, and his efforts in support
of the cause of education have been very ef-
fective. He and his family are all mem-
bers of the Christian church — certainly a
most creditable record and one well worthy
of emulation. They have aided financially
in the erection of seven different churches
in this vicinity, which indicates their deep
interest in all that pertains to the uplifting
of the human race. Socially Mr. Lephart
is connected with the Masonic order, Lodge
No. 488. at Ansonia, and he is a worthy
representative of the craft. He and his
family enjoy the high regard of all who
know them, and he is truly a self-made man
whose advancement in life is creditable,
showing what may be accomplished by de-
termined purpose and unflagging industry.
CYRUS BIGLER.
This well-known and representative cit-
izen of Darke county, Ohio, — Cyrus Bigler,
whose home and farm are on section 36,
Wayne township — is a native of the coun-
ty and dates his birth in Adams township,
August 13, 1844.
Mr. Bigler traces his ancestry along the
agnatic line for a hundred years back to Den-^trle^
mark. Three brothers of the name of Big- MW_- £"*s
ler came together to America and here they "^
soon separated, one settling in New York,
one in Pennsylvania and one in Virginia, and
from these three have sprung all the Biglers
in this country. Moses Bigler, the father of
Cyrus, was a native of Maryland, born in
1818, and his father, David Bigler, was also
born in that state. The former came to
Ohio at an early day, about 1828, and was
one of the first settlers of Darke county.
Through his mother Mr. Bigler is related to
the Millers, one of the largest and a much-
respected family of Darke county, they hav-
ing removed here from Kentucky about the
time it was admitted as a slave state. Mrs.
Bigler. the mother of our subject, was form-
erly Miss Mary Miller. She was born in
Adams township, this count}-, a daughter of
Jacob Miller, and is still living, at the age
of seventy-four. To Moses and Mary Big-
ler were born five children, two sons and
three daughters, Cyrus being the eldest. The
others are as follows : Jacob, who is mar-
ried and living on a farm in Michigan;
Nancy, wife of John Long, of Adams town-
ship, Darke county; Mary, wife of David
Martin, also of Adams township; and Lyd-
ia, wife of Charles Jackson, of Pleasant Hill,
Ohio.
In his youth Mr. Bigler had good edu-
cational advantages, attending school in his
native township, later being a student in the
Greenville schools, and still later entering
what was then known as Whitewater Col-
lege, at Centerville, Indiana. It was at the
last named institution that Henry I'. John-
son was educated, and they were in schoi >1 at
the same time. At the age of seventeen
years Mr. Bigler began teaching school,
which occupation he followed in his native
262
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
county during the winter season for several
years, or up to the time of his marriage, af-
ter which lie located on the farm where he
in nv resides, and where he has since been
engaged in agricultural pursuits. His
home place comprises one hundred acres
and he has seventy acres in another tract,
all of which he operates.
Mr. Bigler married Miss Lydia A. Lowe,
a native of Palestine, German township,
Darke county. Ohio, who died in 1887 leav-
ing a family of eight children, namely:
Lulu, who is now the wife of Noah Grove,
and has four children — Mary, Estella. Mil-
lard and Carl ; Charles, who married Man-
Wade and has one child, Ivan; Earl, who
married Ollie Brewer and has one daughter,
Bernice ; Jacob, who married Ida Farmer ;
Clyde, who married Carrie Robinson; Es-
tella Mabel and Bessie, at home. For his
second wife Mr. Bigler married Miss Ida
Seifert, and by her has one son, Herman.
Politically Mr. Bigler has always given
his support to the Democratic party, and
has at different times filled local office. In
1880 he was assessor. At this writing he
is a director in the German Baptist Mutual
Fire Insurance Company, of Covington,
Miami county, Ohio. He is a member of
the German Baptist church.
. JOHX L. BAILEY.
While memory remains to the American
citizens the "boys in blue" who fought for
the defense of the Union will ever be held
in grateful remembrance, and well do they
deserve all the love that can lie bestowed
upon them. A man does not lightly risk
life, but when in the face of great danger
he bravely stands for his country and his
principles he awakens the highest admira-
tion of all who know aught of his gallantry.
With the splendid army that marched to
the south to aid in crushing the rebellion
went John L. Bailey, and today he is num-
bered among the veterans of the civil war,
and is also regarded as one of the leading
and substantial citizens of Darke county,
Ohio.
It was in Brown township, this count) - ,
that he was born, August 26, 184 1. His
father, Henry Bailey, was also a native of
Ohio, his birth having occurred in Perry
county, on the 19th of December, 181 1. He
was reared as a farmer and obtained his edu-
cation in the primitive subscription schools
of the early part of the nineteenth century.
During his boyhood he accompanied his par-
ents on their removal to Preble county,
Ohio, at which time that section of the state
was an unbroken wilderness. He was mar-
ried in that county to Miss Nancy Runyon,
whose birth occurred in Kentucky, on the
joth of February, 18 18. In 1833 he came
to Darke county and located in Brown town-
ship, upon a tract of one hundred and twen-
ty acres of dense forest land. No house
had as yet been builded, and his first home
was a little log cabin. Bears, wolves and
deer were still killed in the neighborhood,
and venison was a dish often found upon the
board of the early settlers. Everything was
wild and gave little promise of the wonder-
ful development and progress which was
soon to work a splendid transformation
here. Our subject can remember when
deer traveled over his father's farm as a
drove of sheep passes through a field. In
the midst of the forest the father hewed out
a homestead.
He was a man of strong decision of char-
acter, well known for his reliability and
trustworthiness. His fellow townsmen,
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
2G3
recognizing his ability, called him to office,
and he served as trustee and in other local
positions, discharging his duties with
promptness and fidelity. He was a warm
friend of the cause of education and of all
measures calculated to contribute toward
the general good.. In politics he was first
an old-line Whig, supporting the party until
the organization of the new Republican
party, when he joined its ranks, becoming
a warm advocate of the "rail-splitter" who
was raised to the presidential chair. He
aided in the first Christian church of the lo-
cality, known as the Teegarden church, and
also contributed toward the building of two
other churches in this vicinity. He was a
man of kind and benevolent purpose and
made the Golden Rule the motto of his life.
On the 6th of July, 1887, he was called to
his final rest, and his remains were interred
in the Teegarden cemetery. His wife still
survives him. at the age of eighty-two years,
and her mental faculties are still unimpaired.
She makes her home with her children and is
a consistent Christian woman, holding-
membership in the Christian church. In
the family were five sons and four daugh-
ters, of whom seven are yet living, namely:
Mary A.; John L., of this review; Samuel,
a resident of Darke county ; Stephen, who is
married and lives in Ansonia, from which
place he travels as a commercial agent ; Re-
becca, the wife of David Bennett, who is
also a veteran of the civil war, and is now
living in Woodington, Ohio ; Hannah, the
wife of Wesley McKay, who served as a
soldier in the Union arm}-, and is now an
agriculturist of Brown township; and Adda,
the wife of Oscar Strait, also a farmer of
Brown township. She is the youngest
member of the family. One son, William
Bailev, served for three years in the civil
war and was wounded at the battle of Look-
out Mountain.
John L. Bailey, the immediate subject of
this sketch, was reared in Darke county and
received such educational privileges as the
common schools of the neighborhood af-
lorded. His time, however, was largely oc-
cupied with the work of clearing and devel-
oping the home farm, and thus he early be-
came familiar with the work of field and
meadow. He was only twenty-one years of
age when, at the president's call for troops,
he enlisted, at Greenville, Ohio, on the 8th
of August, 1862, as a member of Company
G, Fortieth Ohio Infantry, under Captain
Charles Gordon Matchett. They rendez-
voused at Columbus, Ohio, and the regi-
ment was ordered to report at Big Sandy
river, but Mr. Bailey was taken ill with ty-
phoid fever and forced to remain in the In >s-
pital for three months. On the expiration
of that period he rejoined his command at
Big Sandy, the forces being there encamped
under General James A. Garfield. From
that place they went up the Ohio and Cum-
berland rivers to Nashville, Tennessee, by
steamer, and at the latter place the Fortieth
Ohio was assigned to the Army of the Cum-
berland. The Union troops proceeded to
Franklin, Tennessee, and participated in the
hotly-contested engagement against Gen-
eral Hood. Mr. Bailey served as provost-
guard in the city of Franklin, and was so
close to the rebels that they could easily
have shot him, but he managed to make his
escape. The next battle in which he took
part was the three days' engagement at
Chickamauga. He was in the front of the
action where the rebel lead fell thick and
fast. Many of his companv were killed or
wounded, and a pine tree near him was cut
down by the shot and shell of the enemy
2Qi
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
aid fell among the boys who were there
fighting to preserve the Union. At that
battle Mr. Bailey was struck by a piece of
spent shell, but was not injured. The next
engagement in which he participated was at
Lookout mountain, known as "the battle
above the clouds." and there it was that
his brother William was wounded. It was
one of the most picturesque engagements of
the entire war, for the field lay upon the
mountain crest, and commanded a magnifi-
cent view of the surrounding country. Mr.
Bailey also took part in the battle of Mis-
sionary Ridge, where with his regiment he
was on the extreme right of the Union army.
The Confederates were there signally de-
feated and the Union troops were jubilant
over the splendid victory. They suffered
many hardships, however, often having
nothing to eat save the com which had been
dropped by the mules and which they picked
up and parched, eating it with relish. Mr.
Bailey also followed the stars and stripes
on the battlefields of Chickamauga, Jones-
boro, Lovejoy Station and through the cele-
brated Atlanta campaign from the 3d of
May until the 9th of September, during
which time the troops were almost daily
under fire. So constant was the action that
they had scarcely any rest, and on more than
one occasion he sat leaning against a
tree in order to get a few moments' sleep.
At other times he and his comrades would
lie down between two rails and in the morn-
ing would find that their bed was sur-
rounded by water, so constantly did it rain
during that campaign. He was present at
the battles of Peach Tree Creek, Kenesaw
Mountain and Resaca. — all hotly contested
engagements, — Buzzards' Roost and Ring-
gold. At Kenesaw Mountain while his
company was marching toward the rebel
works, he narrowly escaped bding killed,
and a ball struck his comrade next to him.
During the first day's battle at Chickamau-
ga he had a narrow - escape from capture.
He endured all the hardships and trials of
war save imprisonment, and loyally fol-
lowed the old flag where it led. After the
Atlanta campaign his division of the army
was ordered to pursue General Hood, and
at Franklin, Tennessee, they encountered the
rebel commander and participated in one of
the fiercest battles that raged during the
four years of warfare. Later the battle of
Nashville occurred, in which General Hood
was hopelessly defeated. The Union troops
then followed the rebel commander to
Huntsville. Alabama, and thence returned
to join Grant's army, making repairs on the
railroad lines as they were on the march.
When in the vicinity of Greenville, Tennes-
see, the joyful news reached them of the
surrender of Lee and his army. The F< iurth
Corps, to which Mr. Bailey belonged, was
sent back to Nashville, Tennessee, and
thence to Texas, but as his time had almi >st
expired, he received an honorable discharge
on the 27th of June. 1865, and with a happy
heart returned to home and friends, having
for almost three years faithfully served his
country upon the battlefields of the south.
Mr. Bailey has been twice married. He
first wedded Elizabeth E. Teegarden. a rep-
resentative of one of the well known pioneer
families of the county. Their marriage oc-
curred September 2, 1869, and was blessed
with three children, two sons and a daugh-
ter, of whom two are living. Harvey, the
elder, was educated in the common schools,
wedded Miss Catherine Harp, and is a
farmer of Greenville township, while Henry
A. is a resident of Woodington, Ohio, where
he is engaged in merchandising and grain
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
2G5
dealing in partnership with Bert Teegarden.
The firm are doing a large business and en-
joy a creditable reputation in commercial
circles. Henry A. Ba'iley married Miss
Minnie Cox. One daughter, Nancy Laura,
was born April 24, 1874, and was married
December 24, 1892, to William H. Slick,
and died of consumption May 31, 1896.
She was an earnest Christian woman, great-
ly beloved for her many excellencies of char-
acter, and the memory of an upright life she
left to her husband and her two motherless
little children. The mother of these chil-
dren was born on the old Teegarden farm
in Brown township, in 1847, and died Au-
gust 19, 1875. For his second wife Mr.
Bailey chose Sarah M. Strader, the wedding
taking place October 19, 1877. She was
born in Darke county, December n, 1854, a
daughter of John A. and Margaret L.
(Weber) Strader. Her father was born
in Knoxville, Tennessee, October n, 1818,
and died October 12, 1899, at the age of
eighty-one years and one day. He was a
farmer and a devoted Christian man, es-
teemed by all who knew him. His wife,
who is a consistent member of the Christian
church, was born October 11, 1823, and is
still living. In their family were fifteen
children, seven sons and eight daughters,
eleven of whom yet survive. Unto Mr. and
Mrs. Bailey have been born two sons and two
daughters, but their son Howard died on
the 1st of September. 1884, at the age of
seven months. The following stanzas were
written by a friend :
"We loved him; yes, we loved him ;
But angels loved him more.
And they have sweetly called him
To yonder shining shore.
"The golden gates were opened,
A gentle voice said Come,
x\nd with farewells unspoken
He calmly entered home."
Ida, the eldest child, is now the wife of
George Andrews, a farmer of Union City,
Indiana, and they have one child living, a
daughter. Their little son, John William,
was born April 14, 1897, anc ' cne d August
24, 1898. He was a sweet, lovable child,
and his death was a great blow to the par-
ents; but the Master said, "Suffer little chil-
dren to come unto Me and forbid them not,
for of such is the kingdom of heaven," and
the little one passed to the home above.
Lemuel H. is living at home with his par-
ents, and assists in the work of the farm.
Mattie completes the family and is a stu-
dent in the public schools, and is also a stu-
dent of music.
At the time of his marriage Mr. Bailey
had a capital of about one thousand dollars,
which he had accumulated through hard
work. Year by year he has added to his
property, and is today the owner of one
hundred acres of valuable land, which is in
a good state of cultivation. He has a good
residence, substantial outbuildings and all
the modern accessories and conveniences of
a model farm. He follows progressive and
practical methods, and is widely known as a
leading agriculturist of his community. He
votes with the Republican part)', and has
been a stanch advocate of its principles since
casting his first presidential vote for Abra-
ham Lincoln. He has served for a number
of years as a school director, and his labors
have been effective in promoting the cause
of education. Otherwise, however, he has
never held office, preferring to devote his
266
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
time and energies to his business affairs, in
which he has met with signal success. So-
cially he is connected with Fifer Post, G. A.
R., of Ansonia, and he and his family are
consistent members of the Christian church
in Woodington. He has contributed largely
toward the erection of the house of worship,
and has also given material assistance to
other churches and to many benevolences
worthy of consideration. He and his wife
enjoy the warm regard of many friends and
the hospitality of many of the best homes
in this section of the state. Their lives
have ever been upright and honorable, and
their many excellencies of character have en-
deared them to a large circle of acquaint-
ances.
NATHAN S. WARVEL.
One of the gallant defenders of the Union
during the dark days of the civil war and
now a prominent farmer residing on section
I, Greenville township, Darke count}-, is
Nathan S. Warvel, who was burn in Rich-
land township, the same county, April 18,
1839, and is a son of John H. and Alary
(Souders) Warvel, natives of Warren and
Montgomery counties, Ohio, respectively,
and the founders of the family in Darke
county, their home being near Beamsville,
where they located in 1838. In 1839 the
paternal grandparents, Christopher and
Charlotta (Lilly) Warvel, natives of Rock-
ingham, Virginia, also came to Darke coun-
ty and located on a farm near Beamsville, in
Richland township. The)- were members of
the United Brethren church, and the grand-
father donated the logs to construct the first
church erected in Beamsville. He also gave
to the town the land comprising the original
cemetery at that place. The first to be
buried there was Enos Hathaway, a son of
Thomas Hathaway, who died in 1847. The
grandfather was a soldier in the war of 1812,
under the command of Colonel Methias. He
died March 15, 1851, aged fifty-five years,
and his wife departed this life March 14,
1855, aged fifty-six. Of their nine children
five are still living, namely :
George, a
United Brethren preacher of Butler county,
Ohio; Daniel, a resident of Richland town-
ship, Darke county; Mrs. Elizabeth Beam, of
Ansonia, Ohio; Mary, the widow of Daniel
Hartzell, of Pikeville, Darke county ; and
Mrs. Margaret Hathaway, of Washington,
D. C. Those deceased were: John H.,
William, Sarah Ann and Adeline.
After residing in this county for three
years, John H. Warvel, the father of our sub-
ject, returned to Montgomery county, owing
to his wife's ill health, and there she
died, May 15, 1842. He then located
on his father's farm in Richland town-
ship, Darke county, where he resided
until 1847, when he removed to the
farm now owned and occupied by our
subject. He died here February 2/,
1898, at the age of seventy-nine years, hon-
ored and respected by all who knew him.
He served as infirmary director of the coun-
ty two terms. He was a man of good busi-
ness ability and was particularly well quali-
fied for the settlement of estates and as an
executor he settled many during his life time.
He was one of the original members of the
United Brethren church at Beamsville, and
later assisted in organizing the church at
Pikeville, being a man of strong religious
convictions and an active worker, whose life
was in accordance with the teachings of the
Golden Rule. In politics he was independ-
ent, voting for the man rather than the party.
He was four times married, his first wife
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
267
being the mother of our subject, and to them
two children were born : Nathan and Mary,
the latter of whom died in infancy. His
second wife was Barbara Ann Holloway, by
whom he had two sons : Allen C, of
Bradford, Miami county, Ohio; and Irvin,
deceased. The third wife was Phcebe Hor-
ney. and Phoebe, the only child of this union,
died at the age of one year. For his fourth
wife he married Elizabeth Beenblossom, who
bore him five children : Charlotte, now the
widow of Calvin Garver, of Greenville; Sa-
rah Adaline, wife of Adam Johnson, of
Darke county; Elizabeth, the wife of O. J.
Hager, of Muncie, Indiana ; and Emeline,
the wife of George Garbig, of Darke county.
Our subject lived on the homestead farm
in. Richland township until eight years of
age, and then removed to the farm in Green-
ville township, which he now owns and oc-
cupies. During his youth he assisted his fa-
ther in the laborious task of clearing and
improving the farm, and attended the dis-
trict schools when his services were not
needed at home. He remained with his fa-
ther until attaining his majority, and then
began life upon his own responsibility. For
a year after his marriage he lived near
Beamsville, and then located upon his pres-
ent farm, where he owns fifty acres of well
improved and highly cultivated land.
On the 23d of December, i860, Mr.
Warvel led to the marriage altar Miss
Nancy J. Royer, a daughter of David and
Sarah (Grafford) Royer, of Logan county,
Ohio. By this union five children were
born, but two died in infancy unnamed, and
Mary E., who became the wife of William H.
Huber, is also now deceased. The living
are : Martha L., now the widow of Riley
Yonker; and Eva, the wife of G. H. Mills,
of Beamsville.
Mr. Warvel joined the "boys in blue"
during the civil war, by enlisting on
the 2d of May, 1864, in Company G, One
Hundred and Fifty-second Ohio Volun-
teer Infantry, and was mustered into the
service as sergeant of his company. They
were with Hunter on his raid through
the Shenandoah valley, and for more than
a month were kept constantly on the march.
At Cumberland, Maryland, the company was
detached from the regiment and stationed at
what was called Fort Cumberland, where
they performed garrison duty until their
term of enlistment had expired. One en-
gagement occurred between this force and
a part of Colonel Mosby's regiment. Com-
pany G supported the batteries while under
fire, repelling the enemy. Twenty days af-
ter his term of enlistment had expired Mr.
Warvel was mustered out at Camp Denni-
son, September 22, 1864. He had left the
plow standing in the furrow when he en-
tered the service, and upon his return home
resumed farming. He is now a member
of the Grand Army Post at Greenville, and
politically is identified with the Democratic
party, while he and his wife are active and
consistent members of the Christian church
at Beamsville.
AMOS P. MILLER.
The farming interests of Butler township
are well represented by Amos P. Miller, who
resides on section 33, where he has a fine
farm under a high state of cultivation. He
was born near Dayton, Ohio, September 9,
1849. His father, David T. Miller, was a
native of Rockingham county, Virginia,
born February 15, 1812, and in 1S22, at the
age of ten years, he removed to Montgomery
county, Ohio, with his parents, David and
20S
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
Hannah ( Foutz) Miller, both of whom were
natives of Virginia. The grandparents of
our subject had five sons and one daugh-
ter, all of whom reached mature years, were
married and reared families of their own,
namely: Michael, Joel, Solomon,David T.,
John and Barbara. All are now deceased.
The mother of these children survived her
husband about twenty years and died in
1863, in her ninety-first year. Her remains
were laid by his side in the Hull cemetery
in Perry township, Montgomery county.
David T. Miller spent the greater part
of his youth in Ohio, being reared amid the
wild scenes of the frontier. After he had
attained to man's estate he chose as a com-
panion and helpmate on life's journey Miss
Eliza Souders, by whom two children were
born, one of whom died in infancy, and
one, Ephraim, lived until about thirty-five
years of age, leaving three children. After
the death of his first wife David T. Miller
married Miss Anna Shock, who was born
in Montgomery county, Ohio, in 1819.
They were married about 1838 and ten chil-
dren graced their union, of whom nine
reached mature years, as follows : John,
who died in 1866; Susannah, who became
the wife of Noah Comer and died about
1878, leaving five children; Hannah, who
became the wife of David Grove and died
in the fall of 1898, at the age of fifty-one
years, leaving four sons; David I., who died
in 1874, leaving two sons; Amos P. ; Rachel,
who first married Noah Ulrey, by whom
she had three children, and is now the wife
of Cyrus Devilbiss, by whom she has four
children ; Samuel, who is living on the home-
stead farm west of Dayton and has seven
daughters and one son; Aaron, who re-
moved from Kansas to southern California
in 1895 and is there living with his family
of seven children; and Kate Ann, wife of
Charles Millard, who resides near the
home farm in Montgomery county with his
wife and four children, three daughters and
a son. Mrs. Miller was called to her final
rest in December, 1872, and the father was
afterward married again. His death oc-
curred in August, 1886. He was a tanner
by trade and carried on business along that
line on his own account for about twenty
years. He owned three hundred acres of
land in Montgomery county, also land in
Kansas, and liberaly aided all of his chil-
dren. Both he and his wife were members
of the German Baptist church, and their re-
mains were interred in the Hull cemetery.
Mr. Miller, of this review, received
an ordinary common-school education and
remained at home until his twenty-third
year, when he was married, on the 26th
of March, 1872, to Barbara E. Garber,
whose birth occurred in Montgomery coun-
ty, in 1 85 1, her parents being Jonathan and
Catharine (Rife) Garber. Nine children
have been born of this union : Elsie M.,
wife of Abram Wholsinger, of Preble coun-
ty; Clement L., a farmer of Butler town-
ship, who is married and has one son and
one daughter; Catherine V., wife of Will-
iam Petry, of Preble county, by whom she
has one daughter; Olive I., wife of John
Hapner, of Preble county, by whom she has
one daughter; Rachel E., wife of Charles
Slusher, of Preble county; David I., who
aids his father in the operation of the home
farm; Jonathan O., who died at the age
of eight years ; and George E. and John D.,
who are yet under the parental roof.
Mr. Miller located upon his present farm
in the spring of 1882 and has here eighty
acres of land. In addition to the raising
of cereals he makes a specialty of the grow-
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
269
ing of tobacco, and for several years has
operated a threshing machine. His place is
improved with fine buildings, and every-
thing about the farm is neat and thrifty in
appearance, indicating the careful supervis-
ion of the owner. Mr. Miller is independent
in politics and has not voted since casting
his ballot for General Hancock, twenty
years ago. His time and attention are
largely given to his business affairs and in
these he has met with creditable success.
Activity in the affairs of life, guided by
sound judgment, has brought to him a com-
fortable competence and he is therefore clas-
sified among the substantial farmers of his
community.
MRS. ELIZABETH SHERRY.
Mrs. Elizabeth Sherry belongs to one of
the pioneer families of Darke county, and
within the borders of the Buckeye state she
has spent her entire life. She was born in
Versailles, August 26, 1840. and is the eld-
est of a family of nine children, three sons
and six daughters, whose parents were Da-
vid and Mary (Conner) Grissom. Her fa-
ther came to Darke county during his early
boyhood, acquiring his education in the pub-
lic schools and throughout his active busi-
ness career carried on agricultural pursuits
here. The greater part of his life was passed
in York township and he has met with a fair
degree of success in his undertakings. He
died when about sixty-two years of age,
in the faith of the United Brethren church,
of which he had long been a consistent
member. Of his children seven are yet liv-
ing, namely: Mrs. Sherry; Alfred, a soldier
in the civil war, who is now married and
follows farming in Jay county, Indiana;
Hiram, who also was one of the "boys in
blue," and is now living with his family on
the farm in Jay county ; Lucinda, the wife of
Samuel Lehman, a farmer of York township;
Louisa, who is a twin sister of Lucinda, and
is the wife of Cornelius Bertram, of York
township; Martha Ellen, the wife of Webster
Ward, an agriculturist of Wayne township;
and Squire Francis, who is an enterprising
merchant of Miami county.
Mrs. Sherry was a little girl of three
summers when she removed with her parents
to the farm, the home of the family being
a log cabin situated in the midst of the wild
country where the work of progress and
improvement had as yet made little trans-
formation. She has seen deer upon her fa-
ther's premises and remembers the day when
wild game furnished many a meal for the
settles. The first schoolhouse in which she
pursued her studies was built of round logs
and the seats were made of split sapplings,
without backs. Upon a broad board resting
on wooden pins driven into the wall the larg-
er boys and girls wrote their exercises, and
the curriculum was hardly more than the
three "R's." After she had reached wom-
anhood she promised her hand in marriage
to Lewis Sherry, and the marriage was cele-
barted on the 4th of November, 1859. He
was born in Montgomery county, Ohio,
February 13, 1838, and was a lad of five
summers when he came to Darke county,
which was the place of his abode until he
was called to his final rest. Diligence and
enterprise were numbered among his chief
characteristeics and in his various business
pursuits he manifested untiring activity,
supplemented by sound judgment. He car-
ried on farming for a number of years and
for some time conducted an agricultural im-
plement store in Versailles and in Greenville.
He carried forward to successful comple-
270
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
tion whatever he undertook and his business
methods were at all times above question.
His advice and counsel were often sought by
his friends and neighbors and his opinions
were fair and impartial and based upon prac-
tical sense. With his family he occupied a
farm of one hundred and twenty acres in
York township, and his father's old home-
stead there is still owned by his brother.
Such was his upright character that naught
was said against his motives or his acts and
thus he left to his family an untarnished
name.
Mr. and Mrs. Sherry became the par-
ents of four children, but one daughter died
in early life. Those still living are Samuel,
a merchant of Versailles, who married Min-
erva J. Wilson ; William, who is represented
elsewhere in this volume; Ahvilda E., the
wife of Frank Oliver, who was born in
Darke county, March 1 1, i860, and by whom
she has one son and one daughter, Ernest
and Bertha B.
Mr. Sherry exercised his right of fran-
chise in support of the men and meas-
ures of the Democratic party from the
time he cast his first presidential vote for
Stephen A. Douglas. He was repeatedly
elected justice of the peace of York town-
ship, a fact which indicates the confidence
reposed in him, as well as his fidelity and
impartiality in the discharge of his duty.
He was also a member of the executive com-
mittee of the Versailles Farmers' Institute
and took great interest in its meetings. Of
the Masonc fraternity he was a valued and
exemplary member and was likewise a lead-
ing representative of the Evangelical
Lutheran church, with which he united May
26, 1855. He died January 20, 1898, when
almost sixty years of age, death coming
very unexpectedly. In the early morning of
that day he awakened and held some conver-
sation with his wife. A little later it ap-
peared that he had again fallen asleep, and,
thinking it time to arise, Mrs. Sherry address-
ed him. No answer came and noting his ir-
regular breathing, she hastily summoned
by telephone her son-in-law and his family.
Before medical aid came, however, he had
passed away and in his death the community
mourned the loss of one of its valued and
worthy citizens.
Mrs. Sherry makes her home with her
daughter, Mrs. Oliver, in one of the
pretty frame residences of York township.
She has been to her family a kind and faith-
ful mother and has long been a consistent
member of the Lutheran church, and in her
life has exemplified its teachings. For al-
most sixty years she has resided in Darke
county and she has witnessed the greater
part of its growth and improvement. She
belongs to one of the representative pioneer
families of the community, for both the
Sherrys and Grissoms were long identified
with the substantial growth and upbuilding
of this section of the state. Her many ex-
cellent qualities have gained her friends
whose regard is tried and true and those
who have known her longest hold her in
highest esteem.
MRS. SAMUEL WILSON.
Mrs. Samuel Wilson has been a witness
of almost the entire growth and develop-
ment of Darke county. She was born in
Ohio, August, 21, 1836. and is the second of
a family of three daughters, whose parents
were Jacob and Ann Rebecca (Staup) Eyler.
Her father was born in Frederick county,
Maryland, August 30, 18 14, and died Sep-
tember 26, 1886. He was reared upon the
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
271
farm and acquired a good education in the
schools near his home, but at an early age he
was left to care for his widowed mother,
and his educational advantages were meager.
He came with his family to Ohio in 1836.
locating in Montgomery county, where he
resided for seven years. He afterward spent
three years in Greene county and in 1846
came to Darke county, locating in Van
Buren township, and in this county he re-
mained until his death. His political sup-
port was given to the Democracy, and in
religious belief he was a Lutheran. His wife.
who belonged to the same church, was born
in Maryland, April 27, 181 2. and died on
the 20th of November, 1897. She was an
affectionate wife and mother and her teach-
ings have had marked influence over her chil-
dren, for she was an earnest Christian
woman and reared her children in the fear
and admonition of the Lord.
Mrs. Wilson, of this review, was a little
maiden of ten summers when her parents
became residents of Darke county. She re-
mained in Van Buren township until her
seventeenth year and pursued her education
in the common schools. She was then mar-
ried, on the 20th of September, 1853, to
Samuel Wilson. They had little capital with
which to start out in life, but they possessed
resolute spirits and determined purpose; and
the labors of the wife supplemented the work
of the husband, who devoted his energies to
the tilling of the soil. The first piece of land
which they owned was eighty acres in Van
Buren township. Subsequently they sold
it and purchased sixty-five acres in Wayne
township. Their first home was a little log
cabin and for six years they resided in
Wayne township, Mr. Wilson being actively
engaged in agricultural pursuits. He also
possessed considerable natural mechanical
16
ability and was a practical carpenter and
bridge-builder. Perhaps no better account of
his life can be given than to copy the obit-
uary which was published in the Versailles
Policy, in June, 1897. five days after his
death. It says :
"Samuel Wilson was the son of Samuel
and Mary Frances Wilson, and was born in
Greenville township, February 21, 1829.
His grandfather and two aunts were killed
by the Indians near Greenville. The two
aunts. Patsy and Anna Wilson, were mur-
dered in July, 1812. They had left the stock-
ade to gather berries in the afternoon when
they were attacked by the Indians and killed
by blows on the head with tomahawks.
"The parents of the deceased died when
lie was young, his father being drowned in
Greenville creek and his mother died soon
after the sad death of the father. After the
death of his parents he was compelled to live
among strangers until eighteen years of age
when he apprenticed himself to Orrin Cul-
bertson as a carpenter. He remaned with
him until he was twenty-one, when he be-
came a contractor for himself. He proved
himself to be a good business man. By fru-
gality he had become a well-to-do and pros-
perous farmer.
"In the year 1853 he was joined in holy
wedlock with Mary C. Eyler, with whom he
lived happily until death separated them.
To them eleven children were born, eight of
whom are now living, seven girls and one
son. He was always kind and true to his
wife and children. During his life the de-
ceased proved himself a public-spirited man,
serving as the treasurer of Yorktown town-
ship for four years, a trustee for one
and commissioner of Darke county for six
years. Thus his life of usefulness in the
home, in the community and the county is
272
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
ended and he has gone the way of all the
earth. In the last solemn obsequies we could
but manifest our tender regard for him and
tenderly lay the lifeless form to sleep in
mother earth, committing his spirit into the
hands of the Great Giver of life. May his
rest be sweet ! To his companion is due an
expression of our deepest sorrow, for she,
most of all, feels this sad separation. She will
be most lonely. May the infinite Father
comfort and abundantly bless her ! May the
children profit by the counsels of their father
and emulate his virtues! Remember there is
one above who has promised to be a friend
to the orphan and the widow. May heaven
smile upon you and bless you. To the dozen
grandchildren we say, mourn not that a
loved one is taken away. These experiences
you will meet often along life's pathway.
" We shall miss thee a thousand times
along life's weary track;
Not a sorrow or a joy but we shall long
to call thee back, —
Yearn for thy true and tender heart, long
thy bright smile to see,
For many dear and true are left, but
none quite like thee.
Not upon us or ours the solemn angel
has wrought;
The funeral anthem is a glad evangel:
the good die not;
God calls our loved ones, but we lose
not wholly what he has given:
They live in thought and deed as truly
as in heaven."
Such is the account of the life and char-
acter of Samuel Wilson by one who knew
him long and well.
He was for many years identified with
agricultural pursuits in Darke county.
After residing on two different farms in
Wayne township, he sold his poperty there
and purchased eighty acres of land in Rich-
land township. Two years later he disposed
of that tract and bought one hundred and
thirty acres in Wayne township, but lived
there for only two years, after which he sold
cut and bought a quarter-section of land in
York township. This was partially covered
by timber and brush and the improvements
on the place were a little log cabin and log
stable. In his business affairs, however, Mr.
Wilson prospered and year by year added
to his possessions. At one time he was the
owner of six hundred acres in Darke county
and in Indiana. In 1876 he erected on his
home farm in this county a beautiful brick
residence and the following year built a large
and commodious barn. He also made other
substantial improvements which added to
the value and attractive appearance of this
place. About 1S90 he erected on section 15
a tasteful and pleasant house in which their
daughter, Mrs. Gilbert, now resides. Mr.
Wilson was a very successful farmer and
stock-raiser, and his careful management
of his business interests brought to. him a
w ell deserved success. He was known far
and wide as a benevolent gentleman, always
just and fair in his dealings. To his family
he not only left a handsome estate but also
that priceless heritage which is rather to be
chosen than great riches.
In politics he was a Democrat and filled
the office of township treasurer for four
years. He was also a township trustee for
two years and county commissioner for six
years. In all these positions he discharged
his duty with marked promptness and fidel-
ity and won the high commendation of all
concerned. The poor and needy ever found
in Mr. and Mrs. Wilson warm friends who
were willing to aid them, and to many pub-
lic movements and measures which have
contributed to the general good they were
liberal supporters.
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
273
This worthy couple became the parents
of eleven children, two sons and nine daugh-
ters, of whom eight are yet living, as fol-
lows : Cynthia H., who resides with her
mother on the old homestead; William J.,
who is represented elsewhere in this volume ;
Minerva J., the wife of Samuel Sherry, a
merchant of Versailles, by whom she had a
son and daughter; Iola Belle, the wife of
Charles Ewry, who was formerly a teacher
but is now engaged in the hardware business
in Portland, Indiana, as a member of the
firm of Yount & Ewry ; Ida May, the wife
of Harry A. Gilbert, formerly a teacher but
now a prosperous farmer of York township,
by whom she has one son and two daugh-
ters; Mary Frances, the wife of William D.
Yount, who is a partner of Mr. Ewry in
the hardware business, and by whom she has
two sons; Edith G., wife of S. A. Over-
liolzer, who was formerly a successful teach-
er and is now a prominent farmer in Rich-
land township, by whom she has one son ;
and Minnie, the wife of William C. Hile,
an agriculturist of Wayne township. They
too have one son. The children were all
provided with good educational privileges
to fit them for life's practical and responsible
duties, and their life records are a credit to
the family name.
Mrs. Wilson is now residing in her
beautiful home, surrounded by her children
and a host of warm friends, among whom
she has long resided. Her beautiful Chris-
tian character and her upright life have
gained to her the love and esteem of many.
In the Versailles cemetery stands a beautiful
Scotch granite monument sacred to the
memory of her husband, who so long trav-
eled life's journey, sharing with his family
its joys and sorrows, its adversity and pros-
perity. She bravely met the hardships and
trials of pioneer life in the early days and
now well deserves the enjoyment which
comes to her through the comforts witli
which she is surrounded.
R. K. BEAM.
The name Beam figures conspicuously
on the pages of Darke county history. The
ancestry can be traced back to the father-
land, and many of his sterling qualities found
their origin in the Teutonic race. He was
born in Darke county, December 28, 185 1,
and in a family of ten children, three sons
and seven daughters, was the fourth in or-
der of birth. His parents were Solomon
and Elizabeth (Warvel) Beam, and the
father was born in Richland township,
Darke county, on the 26th of February,
1823. He was one of the oldest native sons
in this locality. In his early life he was a
sawyer in Brown township, following that
pursuit at a time when the county was large-
ly covered with a heavy growth of timber.
In later years he carried on agricultural pur-
suits.
At the time of the civil war, prompted
by a spirit of patriotism, he responded to
the call for aid and joined the "boys in blue"
of Company G, One Hundred and Fifty-
second Ohio Infantry. His regiment was
assigned to the Army of the Cumberland,
and he participated in a number of import-
ant engagements and all of the trying ordeals
which make up a soldier's life. He went
with Sherman on the celebrated march to
the sea, and on one occasion he had his leg
broken, which necessitated his discharge.
He entered the service as second lieutenant
of the company, and was always known as a
loyal soldier.
274
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
A man firm in support of his honest con-
victions and earnest in all things, he com-
manded genuine regard from all those with
whom he came in contact. As his guide
through life he followed the precept of the
Golden Rule, and it was exemplified in
his daily conduct with men. In politics
he was an old-line Whig, and in ante
bellufn days advocated abolition princi-
ples and became a great admirer of Abraham
Lincoln, becoming one of the early support-
ers of the Republican party, upholding by
bis ballot its men and measures. He was
regarded as one of the substantial farmers
of the community, and on coming to Brown
township he entered eighty acres of forest
land on section 1 1, where he built a log cabin
and made his home until his death, which
occurred on the nth of January, 1866. He
was progressive and public-spirited, and
gave his support to many interests which he
believed would prove of benefit to the com-
munity. He was interested in the construc-
tion of the old Mackinac Railroad, now
known as the Cincinnati & Northern Rail-
road, and his material assistance was given
to many other measures. His father,
George Beam, came to Ohio from the state
of Pennsylvania, and was one of the pio-
neers of Richland township. He staked out
the first lot in Beamsville and the town was
named in his honor.
The mother of our subject was a daugh-
ter of Christopher and Charlotte (Lilly)
Warvel, who were early settlers of that coun-
ty. She was born May 16, 1827, and is
still living in the village of Ansonia. For
many years she was a member of the United
Brethren church, but now holds membership
in the Methodist Episcopal church, and is
an earnest Christian lady, whose belief finds
exemplification in her upright life. Her
influence has had marked effect on the char-
acter of her children, who have every reason
to be grateful' for the wise teachings of a
tender and loving mother. Six of her chil-
dren yet survive, namely : Daniel C, who
was a soldier in the civil war, is married and
is now following farming in Allen township;
R. K., of this review; Paulina, the wife of
John Ketrow, a commercial traveler resid-
ing in YanWert, Ohio; Jane, wife of A. J.
Lickel, a farmer of Mercer county, Ohio;
Leroy S., a farmer who is married and lives
in Brown township; and Mollie A., wife of
Dr. De Ford, who is a graduate of the Cin-
cinnati Medical College, and is now a suc-
cessful practitioner in Rossville.
R. K. Beam, whose name forms the cap-
tion of this sketch, is a typical Ohioan. He
was reared to farm life, and throughout his
active business career has carried on general
farming and stock raising. The common
schools afforded him his educational privi-
leges, but he is largely self-educated, for
when he was fifteen years of age his father
died, leaving him to support his widowed
mother and the other children of the family,
as he was the eldest. His life has been one
of industry and earnest toil, but the difficul-
ties which he has met have served to develop
in him a strong character. Many obstacles
were in his path, and at times his boyish
heart almost failed him, but he would re-
new his courage and press manfully up-
ward. As the years passed he worked
his way steadily upward, and today
he is numbered among the substan-
tial farmers and stock raisers of his
native county. He remained with his
mother until twenty-five years of age, and
at that time he married Miss Sarah C. Rue,
the marriage taking place on the 15th of
March, 1877. She was born November 4,
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
275
1856, a daughter of William and Lovina
(Birman) Rue. In the family were ten
children, of whom nine are yet living, all
residents of Darke county.
The father was born in Hanover, Ger-
many, September 9, 183 1, and died April
16, 1896. He was brought to America by
his parents when only three years of age, the
family locating in Germantown, Ohio. He
became a well-to-do citizen of York town-
ship, and lived an honorable life. His
widow still survives him and is making her
home on the old farmstead in York town-
ship, at the age of sixty-four years. She
has been a life-long member of the Luth-
eran church. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Beam
have been born nine children, eight yet liv-
ing, as follows : Augustus, who was edu-
cated in the common schools, is associated
with his father in farming and stock raising
in Brown township : he is married and
in his political views is a Democrat; Myrtle,
who is a most estimable young lady of ex-
cellent character and a favorite with her
many friends, died June 13, 1897; Willie,
who assists his father in the operation of
the home farm ; Daisy, who is attending
school and is also studying music; Ivy,
Thomas, Byrell, Virgie and Thelma com-
plete the family circle. Mrs. Beam is of a
genial and affectionate disposition, and thus
makes a model wife and mother. She and
her husband have traveled life's journey to-
gether for a quarter of a century, sharing to-
gether its joys and sorrows, its adversity and
prosperity.
At the time of their marriage they be-
gan housekeeping in a little log cabin upon
rented land, and Mr. Beam's possessions con-
sisted of two old horses and just money
enough to enable him to place his land under
cultivation. He continued renting for
about five or six years, and then purchased
forty acres of land, constituting a part of
his present farm. He was materially as-
siste'd by James Tynan, who had formed a
strong friendship for Mr. Beam, when he
was a fatherless boy, endeavoring to sup-
port his widowed mother and her children.
As the years passed our subject was enabled
to add to his property, and is today the
owner of a valuable farm of three hundred
and thirty-one acres in Brown township,
supplied with the best modern improvements,
including a beautiful brick residence which
was erected in 1890. Near by are found
commodious barns and outbuildings and
well fenced fields which are highly culti-
vated, giving evidence of the thrift, enter-
prise and perseverance of the owner. For
some time he has made a specialty of stock
raising, and for a number of years has raised
fine hogs, having a large drove of registered
Poland China hogs. He also makes a spe-
cialty of registered short horn cattle, and is
well known throughout the entire country
as a stock raiser who has done much to im-
prove the grade of stock which is raised in
this section of the state. He is well in-
formed in all agricultural and stock raising
subjects, and the methods which he follows
are progressive. For nine years he was the
vice-president and superintendent of the cat-
tle and other departments of the Darke
County Fair Association and is also official-
ly connected with the Darke County Agri-
cultural Association, his labors having been
very effective in promoting the interests of
the farmers of western Ohio.
Mr. Beam cast his first presidential vote
for Samuel J. Tilden and has since been a
stanch Democrat, who has frequently been
selected to serve as a delegate to the county,
state and congressional conventions. His
276
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
opinions always carry weight in the coun-
cils of his party. He was elected as as-
sessor of Brown township when twenty-two
years of age, and has been a trustee of the
township for two terms, discharging his
duties in a most creditable manner. He is
a stanch friend of the little red schoolhouse
and his labors have greatly promoted the
cause of education through twenty years'
service as a member of the school board, of
which organization he is now the president.
In 1885 he was elected one of the commis-
sioners of Darke county and filled the office
with such marked ability that he was re-
elected in 1888. Although but a young
man, his fellow townsmen recognize the fact
that the community was never better repre-
sented on the board, for he gave his support
to all progressive measures calculated to
prove of public benefit and at the same time
was practical in his advocacy of such. He
has never failed of election when a candi-
date for office, and in 1888 received thirty-
seven votes in the county more than were
given Grover Cleveland. He has always
been fearless ami faithful in the discharge
of his duty, standing by those principles
and measures which he believed to be right.
Prior to his election the Democrats of Darke
county were divided into factions and even
county commissioners were displaying
marked dissimilarity of opinion concerning
the erection of beautiful modern buildings
which constituted the "Children's Home,"
but Mr. Beam's proposition to the commis-
sioners and the public met the demands that
were made by those officers and their con-
stituents. A part <f tlic Manix estate was
sold and about fifty-two acres were retained
upon which was erected the beautiful home
which certainly is highly creditable to Darke
county, as well as to the men who were
influential in its erection, prominent among
whom was Mr. Beam. Although his duties
were arduous and difficult to perform he
discharged them fully and to the best of his
ability — and that ability is of a high grade.
He is now serving as one of the present pike
board of commissioners. He lent his aid
and influence toward the work of repairing
and modernizing the county court house
and has always been found in favor of prog-
ress and advancement. The building was
thoroughly overhauled, a complete plumbing
system was put in and due regard was given
its sanitary arrangements.
Socially Mr. Beam is connected with
the Masonic lodge of Ansonia and his life
exemplifies its noble and benevolent teach-
ings. He is also a member of the Darke
County Horse Thief Association, one of the
worthy organizations of the county, and
acted as its president at one time. This is
a chartered institution of the state of Ohio
and has done creditable work in apprehend-
ing criminals. He has contributed to the
support of the churches and schools and has
been active in promoting all measures for the
general good. He and his wife are num-
bered among the most respected citizens of
Brown township and Darke county, and his
close connection with its progress and ad-
vancement would render any history of the
count)- incomplete that did not contain the
record of their lives. He is truly a self-
made man, one who has worked his own
way upward, and his example is indeed in
many respects well worthy of emulation.
FRANCIS MARION EIDSON.
This gentleman, who is now successfully
engaged in farming in Greenville township,
has led a life of honest toil. Throughout
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
277
his career of continued and far-reaching use-
fulness lhs duties have heen performed with
the greatest care, and business interests have
been so managed as to win him the confi-
dence of the public and the prosperity which
should always attend honorable effort.
A native of Ohio, Mr. Eidson was born
in Preble county December 14, 1835, and is
a son of Boyce and Rebecca (Griffin) Eid-
son. natives of Virginia and Delaware, re-
spectively, and a grandson of Henry and
Nancy ( Bunch) Eidson. the former also a
native of Virginia, the latter of Scotland.
On the paternal side our subject is descended
from an old colonial family of English
origin, the first to cross the Atlantic being
his great-grandfather.
The grandfather,
Henry Eidson, was a soldier of the con-
tinental army during the Revolutionary war,
and was a farmer by occupation. Oln leav-
ing his native state in 1806 he removed to
Preble county, Ohio, accompanied by his
wife and three children — Boyce, Shelton
and Nancy. In this state the family circle
was increased by the birth of two other
children, — Margaret and William. The
grandfather took up land i.i the woods three
miles southeast of West Alexandria, where
he made his permanent home, devoting his
time to the development and improvement of
his farm. He and his wife were devout Chris-
tians and active members of the Methodist
church. Upon his farm lie built a log church,
which took his name, and his home was al-
ways the stopping place for the early itin-
erant preachers. In politics he was a Whig.
He died in 1846, aged seventy-five years,
and his wife passed away in 1850 at che age
of eighty-two. All of their children are in iw
deceased and their descendants are widely
scattered.
The father of our subject was born in
1802 and was only four years old when
the family removed to Preble county, Ohio,
where he grew to manhood. Although the
educational privileges of this state were
meager at that day, he and two brothers pre-
pared themselves for teaching and success-
fully taught in the schools of Preble county.
One brother, William, became a physician ;
the other, Harry, became somewhat noted
as a local politician and also served his fel-
low townsmen as a justice of the peace for
over twelve years'. About 1839 Boyce Eid-
son married Rebecca Griffin, a daughter of
Jacob and Hannah Griffin, who removed
from Smyrna, Delaware, to Preble county,
Ohio, at a comparatively early day. The
Griffin family was founded in America by
three brothers, natives of Wales. To Mr.
and Mrs. Eidson were born ten children,
namely : Griffin. Henry and Charles, all
deceased ; Nancy, the widow of Chester
Rensman; Frank M.; Priscilla, the widow
of James Gable ; Willard ; Lucy, the wife of
H. H. Payne; Olevia, the wife of William
Shuman; and Anna, the deceased wife of
Benjamin Smith. After his marriage the
father of our subject engaged in farming
in Preble county for a few years and then
removed to West Alexandria, where he con-
ducted a hotel until 1884, when he returned
to the farm for two years. He next moved
to Johnsville, Montgomery county. Ohio,
where he died in 1847. He was a man of
good business ability and was highly re-
spected by all who knew him. He served
as assessor in Preble county, and fraternally
was a Mason. His estimable wife died at
her home in Preble county in [898, at the
ripe old age of e'ghty-seven years.
In the county of his nativity Francis M.
Eids .n grew to manhood and obtained a
good practical education in the public
278
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
scln iols which he supplemented by a course of
study in a commercial college in Eaton. He
remained with his mother until eighteen years
of age, and then began life upon his own re-
sponsibility. For three years he was en-
gaged in the tanning business with his eldest
brother at Eaton, and in i860 came to Pal-
estine, Darke county, buying the tannery
from George Kester at that place and form-
ing a partnership with Jonathan Hardin.
The following spring, however, when Presi-
dent Lincoln issued his call for seventy-
five thousand men to assist in putting down
the rebellion, he enlisted for three months
in Company K, Eleventh Ohio Volunteer
Infantry, and left his business in the hands
of his partner. His term of service was
principally spent at Camp Dennison, Ohio,
doing picket duty.
Upon receiving his discharge in July,
1861, Mr. Eidson returned home and re-
sumed the tanning business. Shortly after-
ward he was appointed by the military
authorities to take the poll of German town-
ship, preparatory to a draft that was being
contemplated and was afterward marie. On
the 24th of June, 1862, he married Miss
Lousetta A., a daughter of George and Eve
(Frank) Kester. of Darke county. By this
union have been born seven children, name-
ly : Boyce : Clara, the wife of Jacob Schafer.
who lias a position in the Merchants' Na-
tional Bank, of Indianapolis; Virginia, the
wife of Orla Harrison, an attorney of Green-
ville; Harry and Frankie, both deceased;
George Mclntyre and Frank Murray.
In 1864 Mr. Eidson purchased his part-
ner's interest in the tanning business, and
putting all his energy into the same he was
soon doing an extensive business. Employ-
ing extra help, he accumulated a large stock
of finished and unfinished stock, but on the
night of February 14, 1865. his plant and
the entire contents of the building were de-
stroyed by tire, at a total loss of five thou-
sand dollars, as there was no insurance upon
the property. With characteristic energy,
however, he rebuilt on the old site and about
the same time entered into negotiations with
Elisha Dawes, of Greenville, which resulted
in selling Mr. Dawes a half interest in the
Palestine tannery, and he himself buying a
half interest in Mr. Dawes' tanning business
in Greenville. Mr. Eidson then moved to
Greenville to assume charge of the manu-
facturing part of the business. They car-
ried on business together to their mutual
profit and satisfaction for three years, when
our subject purchased his partner's interest.
His next partner was D. M. Stephenson,
who had a shoe finding and leather store,
to which lie gave his personal attention,
while Mr. Eidson conducted the tanner)'.
This connection was dissolved in 1876, when
the business was divided, Mr. Eidson taking
the tannery as his portion, and Mr. Stephen-
son the store and stock. Our subject was
then alone in business until 1881, when, be-
coming somewhat weary of that line of
trade and the business outlook not being-
particularly good, he sold out to T. B. War-
ring, and subsequently purchased Mr. War-
ring's Fruit Hill farm of two hundred and
twenty acres on section 10, Greenville town-
ship, upon which he has resided for the most
part ever since, carrying- on farming and
stock raising, and for fourteen years pre-
vious to 1899 he conducted the Fruit Hill
dairy with good success.
As a Republican Mr. Eidson has been
prominently identified with local politics for
many years. His popularity is attested by
his being elected township trustee in a town-
ship that has an overwhelming Democratic
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
279
majority, and he filled that office one term.
He was a member of the city council of
Greenville six years, the school board of
that place four years and is no\v serving his
sixth year as a member of the County Ag-
ricultural Society, having been re-elected for
a two-years term in 1S99. In 1890 he took
the census in the west precinct of Green-
ville township, and all of his official duties
have been most faithfully and satisfactorily
performed. For twenty-eight years he has
been a member of Greenville Lodge. No.
195, I. O. O. K, and he also belongs to
Jobes Post. No. 157. G A. R. Mrs. Eid-
snii is a member of Rebekah's Bee Hive
Lodge, No. 266, of Greenville. She was
the first noble grand of the lodge and de-
livered the noble grand *s charge the first
five years of the lodge's existence, since
which time she has delivered the past grand's
charge. She served as a special deputy of
the grand master of Ohio for five years,
has been sent as delegate to the state as-
sembly nine years and served as state chap-
lain one year. In all the public entertain-
ments of the lodge she has always been ap-
pointed to deliver the addresses of the Re-
bekah branch of the order. Mrs. Eidson is
a member of Jobes Post Corps, No. 223,
W. R. C, and is the assistant patriotic in-
structor. In religion she is one of the active
and prominent members of the Universalist
church of Greenville, and Mr. Eidson leans
toward the doctrines enunciated by that de-
nomination. He is one of Darke county's
representative business men and is widely
ami favorably known.
WILLIAM ALLEN LIVINGSTON.
This well-known farmer and stock raiser
of Wabash township, Darke county, Ohio,
was born in Preble county, Ohio, March
16, 1856, and is a son of John Livingston,
a retired farmer living near Greenville, who
was born in West Virginia. The paternal
grandfather, John Livingston, Sr., was a
native of Virginia and a butcher by trade.
He married and later emigrated to Preble
county, Ohio, where both he and his wife
died and were buried, though the grand-
mother survived her husband several years.
They had eight children, five sons and three
diaughters, all of whom are still living, and
with the exception of one son all have fam-
ilies.
Throughout his active business life the
father of our subject followed farming but
now, at the age of seventy years, he is living
retired near Greenville. About 1850 he
married Ann Rebecca Vance, a native of
Preble comity and a daughter of Michael
and Ann Rebecca (King) Vance, both de-
ceased. Mrs. Livingston died on Christmas
day, 1898. By this union were born the
following children: John W.. who died in
infancy; Elly. the wife of David Heckman;
William A., our subject; Isabelle, who died
at the age of fifteen years; Martha Jane,
the wife of Dase Stults and a resident of
Piqua; Lucy Ann, at home with her fa-
ther; Mary Margaret, the wife of Irvin
Earsman; and Charles Elmer, who lives
near Greenville.
Our subject was reared to farm life and
acquired his education in the district schools.
On the 23d of October, 1881, he led to the
marriage altar Miss Rebecca Gipe. of Darke
county, and to them were born seven chil-
dren: Mary Jane, who died at the age of
one year; Grade, John, Rosa, Murley, Clara
and Emma A., the last named aged two
years, all at home.
In 1898 Mr. Livingston rented Uriah
Medford's farm in Wabash township, a place
280
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
of one hundred and fifty-nine acres, which
lie is now successfully operating. He is en-
gaged in mixed farming, raising mostly corn
and wheat, and keeps all kinds of stock,
horses, cattle, sheep and hogs. He is a
thorough, up-to-date farmer and hard
worker, and has made sometimes as much
as fifteen hundred dollars per year. Po-
litically he is identified with the Republican
party, and religiously is an earnest member
of All Saint's church.
THOMAS BAKER.
This well-known and prosperous farmer
of Harrison township has an excellent and
finely improved farm in the southwest corner
of Darke county, the same being only one-
half mile from his birthplace, which was in
Preble county, where he was ushered into
the world on the 30th of November, 1832.
His father, Thomas Baker, Sr., was a na-
tive of the state of Xew Jersey, where he
was born November 19, 1795, and died in
Preble county, Ohio, in 1879, on the place
where the subject of this sketch was born.
The great-grandfather of our subject also
bore the name of Thomas and he was born
in the Passaic river valley of New Jersey
in 1762, his death occurring near Win-
chester, Indiana, about 1841. The latter's
father, Thomas Baker, of Long Island, New
York, was a man of prominence in his day.
The original ancestor, who bore the same
Christian name, was an officer in the English
army and at one time owned all of Long
Island. His sword was owned by the grand-
father of our subject and he had it manu-
factured into butcher knives while he was
living in Butler county, Ohio, where he set-
tled in 1801. He married Lydia Hand, of
New Jersey, where they were married, and
they reared five sons and four daughters.
One daughter. Sarah, the first born, joined
the organization of the Shakers before she
was of legal age, so her parents brought
her home, but she eventually returned to the
Shakers, with whom she passed her life,
attaining the great age of ninety-one years.
The youngest child. Abner, lived to be
eighty-eight.
The mother of our subject bore the
maiden name of Elizabeth Wesley and she
was born in Pennsylvania in 1806, John
Wesley, the father of Methodism, having
been her granduncle. Our subject is one of
twelve children, and of this number four
sons and six daughters were reared to ma-
turity and all except one were married.
Those living at the present time are: Ann,
wife of Henry Hutton, of New Paris, Preble
county; Martha, wife of Michael Reid, of
the same locality ; Thomas, the immediate
subject of this review; Elizabeth, widow of
David Roberts, resides near Hollansburg,
this county; Mary Ann, widow of John
Benson, resides near New Paris, Treble
county. The mother of this large family
of children died at the age of about sixty-
four years, and the father subsequently con-
summated a second marriage, his death oc-
curring in the spring o"f 1879, at the age of
eighty-four years. He was an extensive
and opulent farmer, owning about six hun-
dred acres of land in this section of the state
and in Indiana.
The subject of this sketch is the owner
of two hundred and seventy acres in three
farms, all of which he received from his fa-
ther's estate, and other tracts are still owned
by members of the family. Thomas never
left the parental home, but on the 13th of
December, 1855, he was united in marriage
to Margaret Todd, of Preble county, who
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
281
bore him four children, three of whom grew
to maturity: Elma E., widow of Wesley
Clark, of Spartansburg, Indiana, has three
sons. Thomas O. Baker is principal of the
high school at Yonkers, New York; he is
a college graduate, having taken the de-
gree of Doctor of Pedagogy, and stands high
in his profession; he is married. Lennis W.
Baker, a resident of Dayton, Ohio, has one
son and one daughter. Mr. Baker, of this
sketch, consummated a second marriage
October 23, 1870, being then united to Miss
Sarah C. McClure, of Harrison township,
the daughter of Samuel and Rebecca (Rob-
erts) McClure. Of this union seven chil-
dren were born, and of the number only two
are deceased. We offer the following brief
record of the children: Lucy L. is tlie wife
of Alvah Hunt of Preble county, and they
have one son and one daughter. Fanny
May died at the age of six years. Will-
iam Wesley Baker, who is engaged in the
meat business at Hollansburg, has one son.
George H. Baker is a farmer in Wayne coun-
ty, Indiana, and has one daughter. Cora
E. still remains at the parental home, as
do also Lester E. and Naydean, who are
interesting young folk, lending joy and
brightness to the family circle.
Mr. Baker gives his support to the Re-
publican party and fraternally he is identi-
fied with the Masonic order. He has served
several terms as road supervisor and also as
school director. He comes of a large and
vigorous race, being' about five feet and
eleven inches m height personally and weigh-
ing two hundred ten pounds. He has given
careful attention to general farming upon
the most approved methods and has been
successful in raising stock in which line he
has carried on quite extensive operatiohs.
He has bred many good horses, having
owned twenty at one time and having foaled
one hundred and ten colts. Mr. Baker's
home is in the extreme southwest corner of
Darke county, but he is known all over this
section of the state and in the adjacent por-
tions of Indiana, being recognized as one of
our representatives and influential farmers
and as a man of sterling character.
SAMUEL B. MINNICH.
For forty years Mr. Minnich has been
the postmaster of Castine and is one of the
well-known citizens of his locality, whose
sterling worth and upright character have
won him the respect and confidence of his
fellow men. A native of Pennsylvania, his
birth occurred in Dauphin county on the
roth of December, 1824. His father, John
Minnich, was born in the same locality Feb-
ruary 18, 1790, and his wife, Susannah
Minnich, was born February 6, 1793. The
parents have both long since passed away,
the former having died October 22 [865,
at the age of seventy-five years, while the
latter was called to the home beyond in
1856, when sixty-three years of age. Our
subject, the fourth son, when a little lad of
seven summers came with his parents to
Ohio, where he enjoyed the usual common-
school advantages, pursuing his studies un-
til seventeen years of age. Through the
summer months he worked in the fields and
assisted in the cultivation of the home farm
until twenty-two years of age, when he left
the parental roof and worked at the mill-
wright's trade for three years. In 1858,
more than half a century ago, he came to
Castine and has since been a worthy and
honored citizen of this place.
On the 14th of December, 1850 Air.
Minnich was married, by Squire Peter V.
282
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
Banta. to Miss Theressa St. Clair, and to
them were born the following children:
Joseph, born September 19. 1851, is now a
resident of West Sonora and is engaged in
grain dealing. He has a wife, and a daugh-„
ter, who is married. John W., born Octo-
ber 31. 1856, is a traveling salesman, repre-
senting a Cincinnati house. Bertha is the
wife of H. C. Minnich, a resident of Hills-
boro. Ohio, and unto them were born two
children. Mrs. Theressa Minnich was called
to her final rest in i860, at the age of thirty-
nine and a half years, and Mr. Minnich was
again married, February 9, 1862. his second
imii m being with Evelina Law, the cere-
mi my being performed by Peter Y. Banta.
the same worthy justice of the peace who
first married him. Her father, Thomas
Law, was born in Allegheny county, Penn-
sylvania, November 17, 181 5, and died in
1858, at the age of forty-three years. His
wife, Mrs. Catherine Law, passed away Oc-
tober 27. 1870. at the age of fifty- four years
and five months. By the second marriage
there is one daughter. Bertha, born October
26, 1870.
When Mr. Minnich located in Castine,
more than a half century ago, he engaged in
the manufacture of hard-wood lumber, own-
ing and operating a steam sawmill. About
ten years later he exchanged that for the
general merchantile store, and the firm of
Minnich & Hamiel has always held the first
place in the business interests of the village,
their annual sales amounting to from fifteen
to twenty thousand dollars. Mr. Minnich
purchased his first bill of goods in Dayton,
its value being three hundred dollars. He
offered to pay cash if they would discount
five per cent on the bill, but the wholesale
merchant declined this, telling him to bring
his money home and loan it. This he did,
at six per cent per annum, and the goods
were purchased on a year's credit without
interest. The firm have had as high as forty
thousand dollars on their books at one time,
and the unpaid accounts due the house at
this time are over thirty thousand dollars.
During the intervening years the firm of
Minnich & Hamiel have taken large con-
tracts for the building of pikes, constructing
twelve miles of pike which forms an im-
portant part of the system in the county.
Mr. Minnich has one of the largest and
most pleasant homes in the village sur-
rounded by spacious grounds and well kept
gardens. All that he has he has acquired
through his own efforts and his well directed
labors have brought to him very desirable
success. For thirty years he has been a
Knight Templar Mason and, with a thor-
ough understanding and appreciation of the
benevolent principles of the order he has
loyally exemplified its teachings. In poli-
tics he is a Republican and for forty years
has filled the office of postmaster in Castine,
accepting the ofhce in i860 and filling it
continuously since, with the exception of
the period of President Cleveland's admin-
istration. He has served as township trus-
tee and also as township clerk. His life has
been well spent and his useful, active and
honorable career has gained him rank among
the leading representative and esteemed
citizens of his community.
WILLIAM H. REPPETO.
Among the public-spirited and progres-
sive citizens of Greenville probably none
have done more to advance the welfare and
prosperity of the town than the gentleman
who is now serving as the president of the
city council. He has also been a prominent
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
283
factor in business circles, and is a man whose
worth and ability have gained him success.
honor and public confidence.
Mr. Reppeto was born near the city of
Hamilton, Butler county, Ohio, in Decem-
ber, 1845, an d is a son of Dabner and Char-
lotte (McEowen) Reppeto, in whose family
were two children, but the daughter, Mar-
tha, died in infancy. His grandfather, Alex-
ander McEowen, was one of the pioneers of
Darke county and fought under General
Wayne when he was making" his raid
through this county. The father of our
subject was a native of Virginia, but during
his youth came to Ohio, where he grew to
manhood and married. He and his wife be-
gan their domestic life in Butler county,
where he followed his trade, that of cooper,
for a number of years, but at the time of
his death, in i86r, was living in Davenport,
Iowa. His wife had died in Miami county,
Ohio, in 1848.
William H. Reppeto received the greater
part of his education in the schools of Daven-
port, Iowa. Although only fifteen vears of
age he joined the "boys in blue" at the
opening of the civil war, enlisting in 1861
in Company C, Eighth Indiana Volunteer
Infantry, as a musician, under Colonel Will-
iam P. Benton. After being mustered into
the United States service he was ordered
with his regiment to Missouri and Arkan-
sas, and took part in the battles of Pea
Ridge, Wilson's Creek and Duvall's Bluff,
Arkansas. He served faithfully until Feb-
ruary, 1863. when he was taken ill and sent
to the hospital in St. Louis, Missouri, where
he remained some months and was then
sent to Belleville, Illinois. On recovering
his health he re-enlisted in Company B,
Twenty-ninth Illinois Volunteer Infantry,
and served until the close of the war, tak-
ing part in the siege of Mobile, the capture
of that stronghold and Fort Blakelv. He
was mustered out October 11, 1865.
After the war Mr. Reppeto came to
Greenville, Ohio, where he attended school
for a time, and then learned the cabinet-
maker's trade, which he has made his life
work, having followed that occupation in
several different states. On the nth of
August, 1890, he married his second wife,
Miss Amanda E. Cline, a daughter of F.
M. Cline, and to them have been born two
children, Virgil and Ester. The latter died
at three years of age.
Socially Mr. Reppeto is a member of
Flora Lodge, No. 526, I. O. O. F., at Flora,
and has been D. D. G. M. of that order. Po-
litically he is a pronounced Democrat. He
lias been a member of the city council of
Greenville and has been the president of
that body for the last year. He takes an
active and influential part in public affairs,
and was one of the first to agitate and rec-
ommend the construction of sewers and the
propriety of paving the streets of Green-
ville. This was met by the most stubborn
opposition on the part of many of the citi-
zens, and they went so far as to get out an
injunction against the enterprise, but he car-
red his point, and the city now has great
reason to be proud of its streets.
WILLIAM EWRY.
As the name indicates, the Ewry family
is of German lineage and probably not many
generations have been residents of this coun-
try, for the grandfather, John Ewry, could
fluently speak the German tongue. During
the greater part of this- century representa-
tives of the name have been identified with
the agricultural interests of Ohio. Will-
iam Ewry was born near the site of the
284
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
of Dayton, in Montgomery county, Septem-
ber 14. 1826, the second in a family of six
children, three sons and three daughters,
whose parents were David and Alice
(Tyron) Ewry. Only two of the children
are now living, the brother of our subject
being Bazil, who is married and resides in
Versailles, Ohio. The father was born in
Maryland about 1803 and died in 1866.
Throughout his life he followed farming
and also possessed considerable mechanical
ingenuity. During his early boyhood he
came with his parents to Ohio, a settlement
being made in Montgomery county in the
midst of the heavy forest. The beautiful
city of Dayton, now containing about one
hundred thousand inhabitants, was then a
mere hamlet. The family experienced the
usual hardships and trials of pioneer life
and David Ewry continued his residence in
Montgomery county until 1838, when he
came to Darke county, entering one hundred
and sixty acres of land in York township.
The land office was located in Cincinnati
and thither he went to establish his claim to
the property. The old parchment deed con-
taining a description of the farm and signed
by President Van Buren is now in the pos-
session of our subject. The father met with
a fair degree of success in his farming op-
erations.
Only in memory can one picture the pio-
neer home in which he lived — a cabin built
of round logs, the dimensions of the house
being 16x20 feet. There was a mud-and-
stick chimney, a clapboard roof and the
second floor, or loft, was so small that noth-
ing but a bed could be placed therein. Not
a furrow had been turned or an improvement
made upon the farm, and a road had to be
cut through the brush and timber from
the York farm to their home. The town of
Ansonia was not known and Greenville was
a mere hamlet, while the leading trading
post was at Beamsville. Wolves frequently
made the night hideous with their howling,
bear was sometimes killed and stately deer
stalked through the forests. The traveler
of to-day can scarcely realize that such was
the condition of the country only about a
half century ago and that many who are
still living in the community have seen this
section of the state when it was in its prim-
itive condition, unchanged by works of civ-
ilization.
David Ewry voted with the Whig party
until the organization of the Republican
party, when he joined its ranks. He held
membership in the Methodist Episcopal
church and aided in the erection of the house
of worship which stood on his farm. Of
kindly and helpful spirit, his sterling qual-
ities were well worthy of emulation. His
remains now rest in the Beamsville cem-
etery, where a substantial monument has
been erected sacred to his memory. His
wife, who was born in Greene county, Ohio,
died when her son, William, was six years
of age.
Mr. Ewry, of this review, was a lad of
twelve summers when he became a citizen
of Darke county, and for sixty-two years
he has witnessed the wonderful progress and
development of this section of the state.
He was trained to habits of industry upon
the home farm, giving his father the benefit
of his services until he was eighteen years
of age, when he started out to make his own
way in the world. He began work in a
brick yard for six dollars per month, and
his father was to receive half of his salary.
Going to Montgomery county he was there
employed to cut wood for twenty-five cents
per cord. The following year he secured
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
285
work as a farm hand at nine dollars per
month, and was thus employed for six
months. At the end of that time he had
drawn only ninety-five cents of his salary,
so that he was the possessor of a capital of
fifty-three dollars. It was such an indus-
trious and economical spirit that enabled
him to gain a good start in life and steadily
work his way upward to a position of af-
fluence. He has been employed at different
times and at various kinds of labor in Mont-
gomery, Shelby and Greene counties, hav-
ing been absent from Darke county for
twenty-three years.
In Dayton, Montgomery county, Mr.
Ewry was united in marriage to Miss Mary
E. Prugh, the wedding taking place May
25. 1 85 1. She was born in that county
October 12, 1831, a daughter of Peter and
Charlotte (Mitchell) Prugh. They have six
children, three sons and three daughters, five
yet living : Anna C. is the widow of W.
D. Anderson and resides with her parents
in the Anderson cottage in Ansonia ; Mar-
garet Viola is the wife of D. J. Lyons, a
prosperous resident of York township ;
Charles S. is married and is engaged in the
hardware business in Portland, Indiana ;
David S., who graduated in the United
Brethren College in Dayton, Ohio, is now a
minister of the Methodist Episcopal church,
living in Brown county, this state ; and Will-
iam Franklin, a prosperous young farmer
of York township, is serving as justice of
the peace. For forty-nine years the parents
have traveled life's journey together, their
mutual love and confidence increasing as
the years have passed by. They have reared
a number of children, of which they have
every reason to be proud, and have provided
them with educational privileges, thus fitting
them for life's practical duties. When Mr.
and Mrs. Ewry began their domestic life
their possessions were very limited, their
cash capital being a five-dollar bill, and in
addition they had a span of horses and a
wagon and a few farm implements. The
first real estate which Mr. Ewry ever owned
was a house and lot in Beavertown, Mont-
gomery county.
About 1867 he returned to Darke coun-
ty to the old home farm, becoming its owner
by purchasing the interests of the other
heirs. He has here erected an elegant brick
residence, substantial barns and outbuild-
ings, and now has a splendidly improved
farm. He has paid off all indebtedness, has
seventy-five acres of his land under cultiva-
tion and is to-day one of the substantial
and progressive farmers of his community.
His life illustrates what may be accomplished
through determined purpose, unfaltering
energy and honorable business methods.
He makes a specialty of the cultivation of
tobacco, corn, wheat and oats, and the crops
bring to him annually a good income. In
politics he is a Republican and has served
as township trustee for two different terms.
Through the passing years he has been an
eye witness of the upbuilding and improve-
ment of the county, having located here
when few of its roads were builded. Now
there are over one thousand miles of pike
road and the county is crossed and recrossed
by a network of steel tracks. He has been
the friend of progress and is regarded as a
public spirited citizen who well deserves
representation in this volume.
WILLIAM P. iMcGRIFF.
Through many decades the name of Mc-
Griff has figured in connection with the agri-
cultural annals of Darke county, and of this
286
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
honorable calling William P. McGriff is a
representative. He was born in Twin town-
ship, August 3, 1850, and his father is
Price McGriff, who is a native of Preble
county and is now living retired in Darke
county. The grandfather, Patrick McGriff,
was also born in Preble county, and thus it
will be seen that the family has long been
connected with Ohio in its history. Mr.
McGriff, of this review, was reared upon
the old homestead, where he remained until
he was eighteen years of age. He received
a meager education, pursuing his studies
through the winter season in the district
schools of the neighborhood until about six-
teen or seventeen years of age. During
the summer months he worked in the fields,
aiding in the cultivation of the crops.
He remained at home until his marriage,
which occurred on February 18, 1S75, the
lady of his choice being Melzoni Braddock,
who was born in Preble county, and is a
daughter of James and Margaret (Shields)
Braddock. Her father was born in Mont-
gomery county in 1833 and her mother in
Virginia in 1836. They were married about
1852 and had six children, all of whom are
yet living, with one exception, Jane, who
became the wife of Charles Barnus and died
soon after her marriage, leaving one child.
The children of Mr. and Mrs. McGriff are
Clayton, Flora, Dewitt and Gorman. The
family reside in a pleasant home upon a
farm of one hundred and twenty acres, which
Mr. McGriff purchased in 1888, the purchase
price being sixty-five dollars per acre. On
the farm is a large barn and other substantial
improvements. The owner is engaged in
raising corn and hogs and also has eight
head of horses. He raises about two thou-
sand bushels of corn annually and feeds
much of this to his stock, selling; about one
hundred head of hogs each year. He is an
enterprising farmer, whose diligence results
largely in the acquirement of a comfortable
competence. In politics he is a Democrat
and for two terms has served as justice of
the peace, discharging his duties in a prompt,
faithful and impartial manner.
GEXERAL C. M. AXDERSOX.
Conspicuous among those who have
conferred honor upon the legal profession
of Ohio is Hon. Charles M. Anderson, of
Greenville, who is conceded to be one of the
most successful, eloquent and powerful ad-
vocates of the Darke county bar. His splen-
did command of the English language has
made him an orator. Exactness and thor-
oughness characterize all his attainments,
and added to these is a broad and compre-
hensive knowledge of the principles of juris-
prudence in all its departments. Prominent
in professional and political circles, he is
and has been connected with the public af-
fairs which have borne marked influence
upon the progress of the state and nation. A
man of scholarly attainments, accurate in his
judgment of men and events, he is undoubt-
edly not without that ambition which is so
powerful and useful in public affairs, yet he
regards the pursuits of private life as being
in themselves abundantly worthy of his best
efforts. He is one who subordinates per-
sonal ambition to public good and seeks
rather the benefit of others than the ag-
grandizement of self.
He was born in Juniata county, Penn-
sylvania, January 5, 1845, an 'l > s a son of
James and Ruth (McCahan) Anderson, the
former born in Lancaster iunty, Pennsyl-
vania, in April, 1792. the latter in January,
1800. His paternal grandparents were Irish
&-■&*.
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
287
and lived about twenty miles from Dublin,
where all of their children except James
were born. They emigrated to the new
world in 1 791. The maternal grandfather
of our subject was Patrick McCahan, also
a native of the Emerald Isle, and his wife,
who bore the maiden name of Sarah Green,
was a relative of General Greene, one of the
brilliant commanders of the American forces
in the war of the Revolution. The parents
of our subject were married in November,
1820, and lived on a farm throughout their
lives.
Charles M.. Anderson was a lad of ten
years when, in April, 1855. he came with
his parents to Ohio. Upon a farm he spent
the days of his boyhood and youth and later
he engaged in teaching school. During the
war he served as a private soldier in Com-
pany B, Seventy-first Regiment of Ohio
Volunteers, and was honorably discharged
January 6, 1866, the day after attaining his
majority. For some months subsequent to
his return from the army he attended the
normal" school at Lebanon, Ohio, and also
engaged in teaching. Having determined
to make the practice of law his life work, he
took up that study under the direction of
judge D. L. Meeker, of Greenville, and was
'admitted to the bar on the 21st of May,
1868. At once he engaged in practice, open-
ing an office in Greenville, where he has
since risen to a position as a leader of the
bar. His success has been enviable, grati-
fying and creditable. He is noted for the
wide research and provident care with which
he prepares his cases. In no instance has
his reading ever been confined to the limita-
tions of the questions at issue; it has gone
beyond and compassed every contingency
and provided not alone for the expected,
but for the unexpected. His logical grasp
17
of facts and principles and of the law ap-
plicable to them has been another potent ele-
ment in his success.
Mr. Anderson has always been a close
and discriminating student of political ques-
tions, supporting his position by an intelli-
gent understanding of the issues of the day,
and yet for many years he refused all pro-
motion in that line. In 1878, however, he
made an effort to secure the nomination for
congress. The convention met in Sidney,
Ohio, and continued in constant session for
three days and three nights, and Mr. An-
derson was defeated for the nomination by
only one-fourth of a vote. Again on the
7th of August, 1884, he was a candidate for
nomination for congress in the Dayton dis-
trict, which resulted in his securing the nom-
ination on the first ballot. He was elected
in the following October, and while in con-
gress served upon the military committee
and the committee of expenditures of the war
department. He was also appointed by the
speaker of the house of representatives one
of the board of visitors at West Point, and
served with the board ten days under that
appointment.
In January, 1884, Mr. Anderson was
commissioned judge advocate general of
Ohio, by Governor Hoadley, which position
he held during the term of that chief execu-
tive. During the time of the great riot in
Cincinnati, by virtue of his office of briga-
dier general, Mr. Anderson was on duty
most of the time, being second in command
of the Ohio troops. He received special com-
plimentary notice from the governor for his
splendid service on that occasion. In 1890 he
was appointed by Governor James E. Camp-
bell one of Ohio's commissioners at the
World's Fair, and was chairman of the com-
mittee on entertainment at the Ohio building.
288
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
having charge of that service throughout the
continuance of the Fair. In 1894 he was cho-
sen by a joint resolution of the two branches
of congress as one of the board of managers
for the National Home for Disabled Volun-
teer Soldiers, which office he filled for six
years, with such credit as to secure a reap-
pointment by coiagress, by a unanimous vote
of both its branches, in April, 1900.
His investments have always been in real
estate. In this way he has not only ad-
vanced his individual prosperity, but has
done more to improve and upbuild the city
than any other one man, having erected,
up to this time, more business houses than
any other resident of Greenville. He with-
holds his support from no movement or
measure which he believes will prove of
public benefit, but heartily co-operates in all
that he believes will secure advancement
along material, social, intellectual or moral
lines.
Of many fraternal organizations Mr.
Anderson is a valued representative. He
was a charter member of the Improved Or-
der of Red Men, also the Knights of Pythias
fraternity, and the Masonic order, in which
he has taken all the degrees of the York
and the Scottish rites, with the exception of
the thirty-third. He also takes an active
part in the Grand Army post at Greenville.
He is an officer and the largest stockholder
i.i the Greenville Law Library. He has a
fine private library of over two thousand
volumes, containing many rare and choice
works, including the celebrated writings of
the most noted authors. With the contents
of the library Mr. Anderson is widely fa-
miliar. He possesses a very retentive
memory and "is particularly well versed in
history. He has traveled extensively in
European countries and is a man of partic-
ularly fine descriptive powers and a most
entertaining talker, as well as an instructive
lecturer. His acquaintance is very extended,
embracing many men of prominence in all
parts of the country, and wherever known
he is highly esteemed for his social qualities,
his intellectual activity, his professional
qualifications and his upright character.
On the 7th of June, 1870, was celebrated
the marriage of Mr. Anderson and Miss
Ella Hart, the only daughter of Moses Hart,
a builder and contractor of this city. Their
marriage has been blessed with two sons.
The elder, William H., is a graduate of the
West Point Military Academy, and Robert
T., the younger, is now a student at law.
Mr. Anderson and his family are widely
and favorably known in this county. His
life has been a success. His entire career
is illustrative of the fact that certain ac-
tions are followed by certain results. As a
lawyer he has few peers in this section of
the state; as a soldier he displayed bravery
and true patriotism ; as a public official his
actions have been above reproach or criti-
cism; and as a citizen he is an illustration of
our highest type of American manhood.
GEORGE EMRICK.
George Emrick is an octogenarian, and
through the long years he has ever lived so
to command the respect and confidence of his
fellow men. He has put aside business cares
and is now enjoying a well merited rest,
while from those who know him he receives
the veneration and respect which should
ever be accorded one who has traveled thus
far on life's journey. His home is on sec-
tion 34, Butler township, Darke county, and
he is numbered among the native sons of
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
289
Montgomery county, Ohio, his birth having
occurred in Germantown, on the 25th of
November, 1818, and he is a son of Conrad
Emrick, who was born in Bucks county,
Pennsylvania, in 1786. At an early period,
in the development of Ohio he came to this
slate, establishing his home here in 18 10.
The journey was made in the usual emi-
grant style, the destination being reached
after five weeks of travel. The parents of
our subject were in limited circumstances
and never owned a farm, but had a little
home in Germantown, where the father en-
gaged in blacksmithing. He married Eliza-
beth Fie, of Schuylkill county, Pennsylvania,
and they became the parents of ten children,
two of whom were born in Pennsylvania,
while eight were natives of Ohio. The fa-
ther died in Germantown, in 1828, at the
age of forty-two years and was survived
by his widow for twenty-two years, her
death occurring in 1842, when she had at-
tained the age of sixty-two.
Mr. Emrick, of this review, learned the
blacksmith's trade under the direction of his
elder brother, Daniel, who died about 1874,
at the age of sixty-six years. He was sur-
vived by his second wife and ten children.
Our subject received very limited school
privileges, but experience in the practical af-
fairs of life has added greatly to his knowl-
edge and made him a well informed man.
He was married in his twenty-third year to
Frances Arnold, of Montgomery county,
where her birth occurred and their marriage
was celebrated. Fourteen children blessed
their union, of whom nine sons and three
daughters reached mature years : Josiah,
who reared two of his three children ; Cy-
rus, who had ten children; Levi, who died
at the age of seventeen years ; Barbara, who
had six children; Uriah, who had eight chil-
dren; Matilda, whose family numbered
three children; Benjamin, who was the fa-
ther of six children ; George, who had a
family of four children : Solomon, who had
one child, and Lizzie, who had two children.
The mother died in 1885, at the age of sixty-
four years, and fifteen months later Air.
Emrick was again married, his second union
being with Mrs. Coy, who was a widow and
by her first marriage had seven children, as
follows: William, a farmer of Preble coun-
ty; Edward, who is living in Indiana and
has one daughter ; Amila Bechtol, who has
five children; Levi, of Cleveland, Ohio;
Frederick and Ira, who are enterprising
young men and manage the Emrick farm,
making a specialty of tobacco ; and Emma
Williams, who has one daughter.
The farm which Mr. Emrick owns and
occupies comprises one hundred and sixty
acres of land, upon which he has made his
home since 1865. He bought this property
for nine thousand dollars, but at that time
was enabled only to make a partial payment
on it. He has carried on general farming,
making a specialty of the raising of wheat
and has harvested as high as fourteen hun-
dred bushels in a season, for which crop he
received one dollar and five cents per bushel.
He has sold wheat as high as three dollars
per bushel. In all his farming operations
he has manifested a practical, progressive
and enterprising spirit and has worked his
way steadily upward, becoming the posses-
sor of a handsome competence, which now
enables him to live retired. In all his deal-
ings he has been straightforward and hon-
orable, enjoying the respect and confidence
of his fellow men in an unusual degree.
Duringf his Ions' residence in the county he
has become widely known and his circle of
friends is extensive.
290
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
PHILIP KESTER.
One of the most progressive and success-
ful agriculturists of Greenville township,
Darke county, is Philip Kester, who owns
a valuable farm of one hundred and thir-
teen acres pleasantly located a mile and a
half west of the city of Greenville. His
method of farm management show deep
scientific knowledge combined with sound,
practical judgment, and the results show that
"high-class" farming as an occupation can
be made quite profitable.
A native of Darke county, Mr. Kester
was born near Hill Grove, in Washington
township, September I, 1844. and is a son
of Christian and Catherine (Burgin) Kester,
who were born in Germany, but became ac-
quainted after their emigration to America
and were married in this county, the cere-
mony being performed by Judge Armstrong,
in 1838. The father was left an orphan at
an early age and had to depend upon his
own efforts to secure a livelihood. During
his boyhood he came to the United States
and first located in Baltimore, Maryland,
where he found employment for a time at
railroad building. From that city he came
to Darke county, Ohio, in October, 1838,
and purchased a farm of forty acres in
Washington township, only ten acres of
which had been cleared, while a small cabin
had been partially erected on the place.
Here he and his wife began housekeepings
and it continued to be their home for forty-
five years, during which time they were
reasonably prosperous, accumulating a hand-
some competence by years of incessant toil.
The father was a man of exceptional char-
acter, fully enjoyed life, and was highly re-
spected by all who knew him. He took an
active interest in educational affairs, and
was officially connected with the schools of
his district. In politics he was a Republi-
can. Both he and his wife held membership
in the Reformed church, though she was
reared a Lutheran. He died February 2,
1882, aged seventy-five years, and she passed
away December 13, 1886, aged sixty-six
years. In their family were eight children,
namely : Catherine, who is now the wife of
George Wise, of Darke; Philip, our subject,
the next in order of birth; Louisa, who is
the wife of W. H. H. Martin, of Darke;
Susanna, who is the wife of Eli Cook ; La-
vina, who is the wife of S. S. Staudt ; ami
Millie, the wife of Edward Oliver: all these
are residents of Darke county; and Lewis
and Henry. Lewis enlisted August 11,
1862, in Company K. Ninety- fourth Ohio
Volunteer Infantry, and was in active ser-
vice until taken prisoner at Lexington, Ken-
tucky, September 1, 1862, by General. Kirby
Smith's forces. He was soon paroled and
sent home, and after being exchanged re-
joined his regiment at Christmas, 1862, but
in April of the following year he was taken
il! with measles and died in a hospital at
Mufreesboro, Tennessee, May 10, 1863, at
about the age of twenty-one years. Henry
died in i860, at the age of six years.
Philip Kester's educational advantages
were such as the common schools of Wash-
ington township afforded during his boy-
hood. He remained under the parental roof
until twenty-three years of age, and then be-
gan life for himself as a farmer, purchas-
ing forty-eight acres of land north of Green-
ville in Greenville township, which he op-
erated four years. On selling that place
he bought eighty acres of land in Washing-
ton township, where he carried on farming
for seven years, and when he disposed of that
property he moved to Greenville, where he
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
291
lived four years. In 1887 he located upon
his present farm in Greenville township, to
the cultivation and further improvement of
which he has since devoted his energies with
most gratifying results.
In 1871 Air. Kester married Miss Fannie
E. Keefawver, daughter of George and
Keziah (Rahn) Keefawver, and by this
union were born three children : Lewis Ulys-
ses, Elmer E. and Rolla G. The second son,
Elmer E., married Effie Finard and has one
child, Esther, anil they reside in Jackson
township, this county.
Politically, Mr. Kester is a Republican,
and he gives his support to every enterprise
which he believes will prove of public bene-
fit, being one of the most progressive and
public-spirited citizens of his community.
In the summer of 1900 he made a trip to
Europe, visiting all the principal cities and
points of interest, including the Paris Ex-
position.
HARRISON COBLENTZ.
One of the native sons of Butler town-
ship. Mr. Coblentz is still residing within
its borders, his home being on section 21.
where he is actively engaged in agricult-
ural pursuits. He was born June 2, 1840.
and is a representative of an old Maryland
family. His grandfather, George Coblentz,
was a farmer of that state and became one
of the early settlers of Montgomery county,
Ohio, where he took up his abode in 1829.
He married Catherine Hemp, and they have
fourteen children, of whom five sons and
seven daughters reached mature years, while
three are yet living. The grandfather died
about a year previous to the death of his
wife. They had both reached the prime of
life when called to the home bevond and
their remains were interred in the German-
town cemetery. George Coblentz, the father
of our subject, was born in Frederick county,
Maryland, in November, 181 2. and married
Eve Foutz, whose birth occurred in Mont-
gomery county. Ohio, in December, 18 13.
She was a daughter of Frederick Foutz.
The 'marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Coblentz oc-
curred in March, 1834, and for two years
they resided near Germantown, Ohio, but
in 1836 came to Butler township, Darke
county, locating on eighty acres of timber
land. After a year, however, they removed
to another farm of fifty-five acres, on which
some improvements had been made, and at
other times the father added to his posses-
sions until he was at one time the possessor
of six hundred acres of choice land. His
success was very creditable, as it came to
him in return for his earnest toil, guided by
sound judgment. In his family were ten chil-
dren, of whom three sons and six daughters
reached mature years, and one son and five
daughters still living. The mother died in
February, 1882, at the age of sixty-eight
years, and the father passed away in May,
1896, in his eighty-second year.
Harrison Coblentz, of this review, was
reared to farm life, early becoming familiar
with the labors of field and meadow. He
was thus engaged through the summer
months and in the winter season pursued
his studies in the district schools. The fa-
ther gave to each of his children a farm and
Mr. Coblentz thus secured eighty acres of
land, valued at two thousand dollars. He
was married, September 18. i860, to Caro-
line Hittle. of Butler township, who was
born in 1843, a daughter of Nicholas and
Elizabeth (Frishman) Hittle. The mother
was twice married, her first husband having
been a Mr. Smith. Four children have
292
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
been born to Mr. Coblentz, as follows : John
C, who resides in New Madison and has
two sons and a daughter; Elizabeth, who is
the wife of A. H. Judy, and has three chil-
dren; Kate, the wife of C. C. Brawley, of
New Madison, by whom she has three chil-
dren ; and Frank, a farmer, residing on land
adjoining our subject's home. He married
Delia Crawford.
Mr. Coblentz was formerly the owner
of three hundred and fifty acres of valuable
land, and now has one hundred and two
acres, which yields to him a golden tribute
in return for the care and labor he bestows
upon them. He has carried on general
farming on an extensive scale and has also
engaged very largely in the purchase and
shipment of live stock for many years. He
has made the most money through dealing
in corn and hogs. In i860 he moved on the
farm he now occupies. He enlarged his
home in 1875. making it a very attractive
country residence. His business affairs
have been care full}- directed and his efforts
have been crowned with a greatly merited
degree of success. In politics he is a Demo-
crat and for twenty years served as the
township treasurer — a fact which well in-
dictates his fidelity toduty and the confidence
reposed in him by his fellow townsmen.
He was also a justice of the peace for six
years and has been a member of the board
of education for fifteen years. He, his wife
and some of their children are members of
the United Brethren church, and the family
is one of prominence and influence in the
community.
Mr. Coblentz inherited a strong consti-
tution, and his strength and endurance have
been very great, but during the past three
years his health has failed him and he leaves
the active care of his farm to others, simply
giving it his supervision. His wife is a
highly cultivated lady, hospitable and kind-
]v and generous, and few. if any, residents
of Butler township are more generally or
more highly esteemed than the subject of this
review and his wife. They are broad-
minded people, generous and benevolent, and
their many estimable characteristics have
gained for them the warm friendship of
manv.
DANIEL BURNS.
Daniel Burns is a member of the manu-
facturing firm of Daniel Burns & Company,
of Rossville, and is a progressive, wide-
awake business man, whose efforts have con-
tributed in a large measure to the upbuilding
and progress of the community with which
he is connected. Mr. Burns was born in
Mercer county, Pennsylvania, August 26,
1846, and is of Scotch lineage on his fa-
ther's side, his grandparents having come
from Scotland to America. He was a
farmer by occupation and reared a family
of two sons, one of whom, C. Burns, died
soon after the death of our subject's father.
The latter, Thomas Burns, was also a native
of Mercer county, Pennsylvania, and was
living there when called to his final rest, in
18^0. His wife bore the maiden name of
Sarah Fry. and was burn in Pennsylvania,
in 18 1 7. She came of old "Pennsylvania-
Dutch" stock. She is still living, at the ad-
vanced age of eighty-three years, and makes
her home with her children. She was mar-
ried in 1835 and for a half century has been
a willow. Her family numbered five sons
and two daughters, but she lost her young-
est son, James, who died at the age of two
years. The other children reached adult
age. Lewis, the eldest, was a farmer, born
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
293
in 1840, and died in Crawford county, Penn-
sylvania, in 1869, leaving a son and a
daughter. Catherine became the wife of
Alvah Long, in Erie county, Pennsyl-
vania, and died leaving one son. Abi-
gail is a resident of Jamestown, Pennsyl-
vania. Daniel is the next of the family.
Curtis was born in 1848 and IS now a farmer
in Ashtabula county, Ohio, and has five
children, three sons and two daughters.
Thomas died at the age of twenty-two years.
In taking up the personal history of
Daniel Burns we present to our readers the
life record of one who is widely and favor-
ably known in Darke count}'. He was reared
to farm life amidst the forest. His father
was celebrated as a woodsman and cleared
several farms, one of which he owned at the
time of his death. His widow, however,
was left with seven children the eldest being
but twelve years of age and the youngest
a babe. She carefully reared them, instil-
ling into their minds lessons of industry,
honesty and perseverance. She gave them
the best educational advantages she could
afford and her daughter, Catherine, became
a school teacher. Daniel Burns pursued his
education through the winter months, be-
tween the ages of twelve and eighteen years,
but in the summer time his services were
needed on the farm and he worked in the
fields from early morning until late at night.
Be remained with his mother until he was
twenty-six vears of age, and during that time
followed the carpenter's trade to a consider-
able extent.
When a young man of nineteen he began
making staves, which he split by hand. He
purchased timber on the stump and prepared
it entirely alone. Possessed of considerable
mechanical ingenuity he did his work well
and his patronage steadilv increased. The
first mill which he owned was located in
Warren county Pennsylvania. He became
interested in the enterprise in icX8_\ as a
member of the firm of Clark, Allen & Com-
pany. In April, 1885, the business was
established in Rossville under the firm name
of Daniel Burns & Company, the firm own-
ing the mill at this place and one at Cold-
water until 1893, when the latter was sold
out. The business has been a success and
is constantly growing, its sales amounting
annually to from twenty-five to forty thou-
sand dollars. Employment is furnished to
about fifteen workmen in the mill at lv iss-
ville, and the carefully conducted enterprise
has secured to its owners a good financial re-
turn. They manufacture tight barrels,
wagon spokes and other cooperage manu-
factures. He is also engaged in the grain
business, embarking in this line in 1894.
He owns an elevator, of which his son-in-
law has charge, and his business in this di-
rection is extensive and constantly increas-
ing. Some days he takes in as high as two
thousand bushels of grain, embracing ci >rn,
wheat and oats.
In April, 1872, occurred the marriage of
Mr. Burns and Miss Mary C. Covey, who was
born in Allegany county, New York, in 1855,
a daughter of Wilson and Lydia ( Sissem)
Covey, both of whom were natives of the
Empire state and are now deceased. They
were the parents of five children, of whom
three are now living, namely: Mrs. Burns;
William, a resident of Michigan; and Mrs.
Elizabeth Tappan, also of the Wolverine
state. Their mother died at the age of
thirty-two years, and by the second mar-
riage the father had two children: Arietta,
the wife of Dayton Johnson, and Frank, who
is living in Michigan. Mrs. Burns and the
other children of the first marriage were
294
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
born in New York, and she became the
mother of three daughters and one son.
Sarah Lottie, the eldest, was formerly a
school teacher and is now the wife of
Charles Haber, of Rossville, by whom she
has one son. Nellie Abigail possesses con-
siderable musical talent. The remaining
are Olive May and Lewis Edmund.
Air. Burns is a Master Mason and for
the past twenty-seven years he has been a
member of the Independent Order of Odd
Fellows. I lis political support is unswerv-
ingly given to the Democracy and through
the past six years he has served as township
treasurer and as a member of the city coun-
cil, discharging his duties in a most ac-
ceptable manner. His wife holds member-
ship in the United Brethren church and he
has contributed to the building fund for the
erection of two churches and two parsonages
in Rossville. As a citizen he is public
spirited, and his co-operation is withheld
from no movement or measure that he be-
lieves calculated to prove of bublic benefit.
In business he is most energetic, carefully
forms his plans and is determined in their
execution, and his capable management and
sound judgment have brought to him a
creditable and desirable property.
WILLIAM REQUARTH.
Prominent among the leading farmers
of Darke county, Ohio, is found the subject
of this sketch, William Requarth, who re-
sides on his farm on section 29. Greenville
township.
Mr. Requarth was born in Hesse. Ger-
many, in the village of Exten, September 22,
1833, a son of John Henry and Catherine
(Rochmeier) Requarth. natives of north-
ern Germany. There is a legend that the
Requarths are of French origin, but so far
back as the family history can be traced,
which is for many generations, they were
residents of Germany. Both the father and
grandfather of William Requarth were
named John Henry. The younger John
Henry Requarth was born January 9, 1796;
grew to manhood on his father's farm in
Germany and was married in his native land,
living there until 1847. In 1847, with his
eight children, he emigrated to America, his
wife having died in 1842. Their voyage
across the Atlantic was made in a small
sailing vessel, the Anne, and occupied nine
weeks, during which time there was much
suffering on account of the heat, as the ves-
sel drifted into the tropics.
Landing in safety in New York, January
S. 1848, Mr. Requarth and his family im-
mediately set out for Dayton, Ohio, their
objective point, traveling across the moun-
tains of Pennsylvania by stage, via Phila-
delphia and Pittsburg, and arriving at their
destination that same month. The follow-
ing March he bought one hundred and sixtv-
nine acres of land in Clay township, Mont-
gomery county, and into the cabin already
erected thereon he moved his family. On
that farm he was engaged in agricultural
pursuits the rest of his life and there he
died, January 2j, 1880, at the age of eighty-
four years and eighteen days. He married
his second wife in Dayton a few days after
their arrival at that place. The second Mrs.
Requarth was a Miss Fredericka Stock, a
native of Hesse, who accompanied the Re-
quarths and other families from Germany
to this country. She died in 1899. Mr.
Requarth's children by his first wife were
named as follows : Gustena, Charlotte,
Henry, Mena, William, August. Mollie and
Frederick. Bv his second wife he had seven
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
295
children, one of whom died in infancy, the
others being, Charles, Caroline, Henry,
Sophia, John and Harmon.
The senior Mr. Requarth was a man who
possessed the sterling characteristics of the
successful pioneer. He brought witli him
to this country about eighteen hundred dol-
lars in cash, and with this for a foundation
he accumulated considerable property and at
the same time provided for a large family.
A member of the Lutheran church, he was
an earnest Christian man and made it the
aim of his life to follow the Golden Rule.
When a young man in the old country he
served for a time in the army, but was re-
leased from further service on account of his
being the only son of his parents. In this
country he affiliated with the Democratic
party.
Having thus briefly referred to the life
history of his worthy father, we turn now
to a personal mention of the son, "William Re-
quarth.
At the time the Requarth family emi-
grated to America, as above stated, William
Requarth was fourteen years old, their de-
parture from Germany being made on his
birthday. He had attended school from
the time he was six years until he was four-
teen, according to the custom in Germany,
ami had acquired a practical education in his
native language. His confirmation took
place at St. John's Lutheran church, Dayti >n.
Ohio, under Pastor A. Hordorf, soon after
their arrival in this state. He attended
school in Montgomery county, where he
quickly acquired the English language, and
he was soon able to adapt himself to the
conditions in this country.
He remained on the farm with his father
until reaching the age of twenty-three years.
Then he went to Dayton and entered the em-
ploy of Henry Kimes, a plow manufacturer,
with whom he remained eleven months. At
the end of this time he bought an ax and
started out on his own account as a wood-
chopper, in Greene county, Ohio. Subse-
quently he engaged with Daniel Beckel, of
Dayton, as a hostler, and was with him eight
months in that capacity, after which he
farmed on one of Mr. Beckel's farms.
While thus occupied he was married, in
Dayton, May 5, 1859, to Miss Wilhemena
Ostermier, of Greenville, but who was a
native of the same place where he was born,
she being a daughter of August and Carolina
Ostermier, who came to Darke county in
1854. Mr. Requarth remained on the
Eeckel farm four years, until Mr. Beckel's
death, after which he rented an adjoining
farm, known as the Abraham Nichols place.
He had saved up a little money meantime,
which he invested in stock and farming im-
plements, and on this latter farm he lived
three years.
In 1864 he bought one hundred and six-
ty-three acres of the farm on which he now
lives, which was then uncleared and mostly
under water, and was known as the "wet
quarter." For this land he paid twenty-six
dollars an acre. His purchase was made
in the fall. The following spring he settled
on his land, in a small cabin built of logs
and containing only one room. Also on the
place was a log stable. The work of drain-
ing and improving- this farm was no small
undertaking, and few would have under-
taken it. Mr. Requarth. however, set to
work with a will. Through rain or shine,
heat or cold, he could be found at his task,
and he seemed never to tire. People often
remarked that " Requarth was working
himself to death." He cut down the forest
and hauled his cord-wood to market, receiv-
296
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
ing three dollars per cord for soft wood and
four dollars for hard wood, this for some
time being his only source of income. Soon
he got a piece of land cleared and a crop
planted, which he increased each year. He
spent much time and means in ditching and
draining his land, and was the first man
in this locality to plan and carry out a sys-
tem of drainage. For a time his neighbors
were not in sympathy with his plans. Fin-
ally, however,' he secured the co-operation
of the township trustees and the matter of
drainage was made a public enterprise. In
1866 Mr. Requarth sold forty acres of his
land, receiving thirty-seven dollars and fifty
cents an acre. He made his home in the
original log cabin already referred to until
1879. when he built his present brick resi-
dence, a handsome two-story house, with an
L, attractive and home-like and giving every
evidence of comfort and refinement. He also
from time to time erected other buildings,
his barn in 1870, tobacco sheds in 187 J.
In 1881 Mr. Requarth was bereaved by
the death of his devoted wife, her death oc-
curing on the 9th of January. For more than
twenty years she had shared the joys and
toils of life with him, doing nobly her part
toward the making of their new home. She
bore him ten children, eight of whom reached
adult age, and of that number seven are now
living, namely: Henry William, who died
August 21, 1897; Henry F. A.; John II .
F. ; Henry F. ; Louisa W. ; Wilhemena J. C ;.
Caroline W. C. ; Mollie A. ; Carl H. W., who
died December 17, 1880, at the age of six
years, and Frederick W. A., who died Janu-
ary 22, 1878 ,at the age of ten months. The
members of the family now living are all well
to do financially. Three are in Springfield,
Illinois, — John H. F., Henry F. and Louisa
W., wife of Henry Miller. Wilhemena is
now Mrs. Mohr and resides in Lima, Ohio.
Mollie A. makes her home with her sister in
Lima. Henry F. A. and Caroline reside in
Greenville, the former engaged in the gro-
cery business; the latter is the wife of James
Moore.
January 20, 1882, Mr. Requarth married
Mrs. Wilhemena Koester, whom he has
known from girlhood. By her first husband,
Ferdinand F. Koester, she had four chil-
dren, all of whom are living: William, of
Springfield, Illinois; Sophia, now Mrs.
Charles Friark, also of Springfield, Illinois;
Mena. the wife of Henry, the second son
of Mr. Requarth, Greenville. Ohio; and
Charlotte, the wife of Frank Stauffer. of
Darke county. By her marriage to Mr.
Requarth she also has four children, namely:
Frederick H., Catherine A., Carl H. F. and
Maria R. C.
Mr. Requarth has long been known as
one of the most enterprising men of the
county. Whatever he has taken hold of he
has pushed with vim and energy. He is
progressive in every line of thought and ac-
tion ; and that he is appreciated by his fellow
citizens is evidenced by the fact that they
have frequently called him to places of re-
sponsibility. In this connection it may be
mentioned that he has held the office of town-
ship trustee five terms, and he has been a
school director a number of years. He was
the nominee of the Democrats of his county
for the office of county commissioner in
1887, but was defeated through party de-
fections arising from strife between warring
factions in the party, the majority against
him, however, being less than any other man
on the ticket. He is one of the directors
of the Farmers' Mutual Fire Insurance Com-
pany of Darke county. For years he has
been active in church and Sundav-school
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
297
work, having been prominently identified
with St. John's Lutheran church since 1865,
all this time serving in some official ca-
pacity, at present being a trustee and the
treasurer. For many years he was secretary
of the Sunday school, recently having re-
linquished this work on account of failing
eyesight and loss of hearing. He is, how-
ever, a well preserved man. He is five feet
seven inches in height, weighs one hundred
and thirty-five pounds, stands perfectly
erect and possesses, so far as the eye can
see, all the vitality of men in middle life.
JOHN F. SPENCER.
Upon a farm on section 16, Harrison
township, John Francis Spencer resides.
He is numbered among the native sons of
the Barnhart farm February 6, 183 1. His
father was Anderson Spencer, who was born
in Greene county, Ohio, January 29. 1806,
Ins parents being Francis and Sarah Spen-
cer. The grandfather was born in England,
about 1778, and died in Harrison township,
Darke county, in 1870, at the age of ninety-
two years. His wife prior to her marriage
bore the family name of Spencer and was
a distant relative of her husband. Both lived
to an advanced age and when called to the
home beyond their remains were interred, on
a farm in this township, where they settled
at an early pioneer day. The}' had ten chil-
dren, namely: Anderson; Ludlow: William;
Clark; Jackson; Mark; Elizabeth, the wife
of Henry Watson; Delilah; Eliza Ann, who
became the wife of David Polly and resides
in Indiana, and Sarah, who is a widow liv-
ing in Iowa.
Anderson Spencer was reared to man-
hood in the Buckeye state and married Emily
Hi]], of Harrison township, Darke county,
a sister of Milton Hill. Their marriage
took place in 1830 and was blessed with the
following children : John Francis ; Hugh,
who died at the age of sixteen years; Saul,
who resides in Rock Island county, Illinois;
Sarah Keziah, the wife of William Alex-
ander, of Harrison township: William, who
served in the civil war and died soon after
his return home : Lemuel of La Platte, Mis-
souri ; Anderson, who died in middle life;
and George W., a manufacturer of Ander-
son. Indiana; and there were also two chil-
dren who died in infancy. The mother of
this family passed away in 1880. at the age
of seventy-three years, and the father's death
occurred in 1892, at the age of eighty-six
years. His life was one of industry and
honest toil and he was actively connected
with business affairs until well advanced in
years. He held a number of township of-
fices, including that of township clerk. He
possessed more than ordinary ability and had
considerable mechanical genius.
Mr. Spencer began work when very
young, being employed in the fields when
he was so small that he could scarcely reach
the plow handles. His educational privileges
were very limited, but he pursued his studies
as opportunity offered in a log school house
adorned with a mud and stick chimney.
Through the greater part of his youth he re-
mained at home and in 1855 he went to
Kansas. He was married on the 26th of
February, 1857. to Miss Alar}', a daughter
of Lewis and Elizabeth (Brower) Ouker-
man. the former a native of Preble county,
Ohio, and the latter of Virginia. Her par-
ents were farming people, who reared thir-
teen children, seven sons and six daughters,
Mrs. Spencer being the second in order of
birth. The father died at the a ■ of fifty-
298
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
two years and the mother when eighty-three
years of age. their remains being interred
in the Palestine cemetery. Mrs. Spencer
was born in Palestine, in 1832, and by her
marriage has become the mother of eight
children, as follows: Lewis, who is living
in Anderson, Indiana; Laura Alice, the wife
of Calvin Young, of Washington township,
by whom she has two children and three
children by her former marriage to David
O. Baker, who died in February. 1887;
Oliver, of Indiana, who has one son and one
daughter; Minerva Jane, wife of Robert
Simpson by whom she has one son ; Settie
Ann. who married Newton Clapp. and has
one son; Minnie, who was born and died in
1 87 1 ; Charles, who married Miss Effie
White and operates the home farm ; and
Phenie Elizabeth, who died at the age of
six years. Mr. Spencer located upon his
present farm of eighty acres in 1867 and
has led a busy, useful and active life, but
is now living retired. He has relegated to
others the care of his land and is enjoying
a rest which he has truly earned and
abundantly deserves. He holds membership
in Snodgrass Post, G. A. R., of Xew Madi-
son, is a stanch Republican in politics and
has served as school director. Both Mr. and
Mrs. Spencer are members of the Univer-
salist church and are people whose well spent
lives make them worthy of the veneration
and esteem which should ever be accorded
to those who have accomplished the greater
part of life's pilgrimage.
ALBERT HARTER.
Albert Harter is the senior member of
the firm of Harter & Coblentz, dealers in
farm machinery, buggies, etc., and also lead-
ing shippers of stock of Xew Madison. Mr.
Harter is but a recent acquisition to the
goodly array of progressive business men
of this thriving town, but his ability, enter-
prise and upright methods have already
established for him an enviable reputation.
He was born in Butler township, this
county, October 5, 1857, and is a son of
Lewis Harter, a farmer of that township,
who was born near Xew Madison about
1825, and is a son of Samuel Harter, a na-
tive of Pennsylvania. Our subject was
reared on his father's farm near Savona. and
was given a liberal common-school educa-
tion. He remained at home until he was
married, April 19, 1879, to Samantha B.
Crawford, of Butler township, a daughter
of A. J. and Catherine (Lewis) Crawford,
now residents of Greenville township. Of
the seven children born of this union, the
first and third, both daughters, died in in-
fancy, and the second, Earl, also died in in-
fancy. Ivy May died July 20, 1896, when
nearly sixteen years of age. being taken in
the bloom of youth. She was a most prom-
ising young lady, of lovely character and be-
loved by all who knew her. Erta D. has
finished school and is now at home. Edna
May and Virgil, aged respectively twelve and
eleven years, are still in school and are very
bright and studious.
In July, 1899, Mr. Harter purchased
a farm of eighty acres just outside the cor-
poration limits of X T ew Madison, and he lo-
cated thereon in the spring of 1900. He
embarked in his present business on the
19th of January, 1899, and has already suc-
ceeded in building up a good trade. The
firm deals in all kinds of agricultural im-
plements, carriages, etc., and ships cattle,
sheep and hogs to different markets, averag-
ing about seventy-five carloads per year.
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
299
Thev are wide-awake, progressive business
men of known reliability, and have the con-
fidence and respect of their fellow citizens in
a marked degree.
BARTON W. LONG.
Among the representative farmers of
Darke county distinctive recognition must
needs be given to Mr. Long, whose fine
homestead is located on section 16, Harrison
township, his postoffice address being New
Madison. Barton Webster Long was born
in Hamilton county, Ohio, six miles distant
from the city of Cincinnati, August 21, 1862.
His father, Joseph Long, was a native of
bonnie Scotland, where he was born in the
year 1830, coming of stanch old Scotch-
Irish stock. The latter's father was James
Christopher Long, who emigrated from
Scotland to the United States about the year
1840, sending for his family to join him
about two years later. After a few years'
residence in the east the family came to
Cincinnati, where he did effective service as
a clergyman of the Methodist church. He
was a victim of the memorable epidemic of
cholera in 1849, his wife and one son also
succumbing to the dread disease within
twenty-four hours. The father of our sub-
ject fled from the plague-stricken city, going
to Bartholomew county, Indiana, where he
remained for some time. He was married
in the year 1855, at the age of twenty-five
years to Nancy Jessup, who was born near
Cincinnati, in 183 1, the daughter of Daniel
and Nancy (Stewart) Jessup, the former
of whom emigrated to Ohio from New Jer-
sey in the early pioneer days, being an in-
spector of the Indians, many of whom were
installed upon the reservation here. He was
of a studious nature and through his own ef-
forts acquired a good education for his day.
The parents of Mr. Long owned a small farm
near Cincinnati, and to brighten the little
home there came to them six children, name-
ly: Virginia, who died in infancy: Zendora,
who is unmarried and who resides at the
home of her brother; Barton \Y.. the im-
mediate subject of this review ; Madallia,
who is the wife of the Rev. T. J. Halstead,
an itinerant clergyman of the United Breth-
ren church; Genevra, wife of J. W. Miller,
cf Newcastle, Indiana; and Douglass E.,
who died at the age of six months. The
mother of our subject died in May, 1884,
the father surviving her four years, and their
mortal remains were laid to rest in Otter-
bein cemetery, Butler township, this count}-.
Barton W. Long received excellent edu-
cational advantages and prepared himself
for pedagogic work, having pursued his
studies in New Madison and in the New
Parison high school, after which he entered
the normal school at Danville, Indiana, and
thereafter supplemented his already thorough
discipline bv a course in a commercial col-
lege. Circumstances, however, led to his
adopting the life of an agriculturist, and his
success has been such as to leave him no re-
gret that he chose this field of endeavor.
The place which Mr. Long owns and culti-
vates was secured by his father about twen-
tv years before his death, the latter having
been for many years an itinerant preacher,
and the original place comprised one hun-
dred and sixty acres. At his death the fa-
ther left a good estate, including a life in-
surance of six thousand dollars, and it be-
came the duty of his son, Barton W., to
finally assume the management of the prop-
erty, which was somewhat encumbered. By
careful management and well directed efforts
lie eventually cleared the estate of indebted-
300
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
ness and put the farm into excellent condi-
tion. In 1895 he sold one-half of the place,
retaining his present farm of eighty acres,
which is under a high state of cultivation,
with permanent improvements of the best
order, indicating the progressive spirit and
wise methods brought to bear by Mr. Long.
Though there are more pretentious homes to
be found in the county, there is none which
is more pleasant and attractive that that of
our subject, for the home idea is evident
and neatness and good taste characterize all
the improvements that have been made.
The buildings are most eligibly located on
a natural building site, the knoll command-
ing a fine view of the surrounding country
and affording excellent drainage facilities.
The residence grounds are rendered attract-
ive by fine shade trees and shrubbery and an
air of refinement and cultured taste per-
vades the home, both in its exterior and in-
terior appointments. Climbing about the
porch at the rear of the house is a fine speci-
men of the sweet-briar rose, the dainty blos-
soms and fragrant leaves perfuming the
house and bearing a perpetual tribute to the
memory of the gentle mother of Mr. Long,
v. In 1 with her own hands planted the shrub
and trained it during many years. It is thus
doubly dear to the family, being hallowed
by the associations of the past and breathing
the fragrance of the gentle life which it so
happily typifies.
On November 1, 1890, Mr. Long was
united in marriage to Miss Dora M. Thomas,
a native of this township and the daughter
of J. V. Thomas, a well, known citizen of
the county. Of this union one child was
born, but did not long survive to brighten
the home.
Mr. Long's natural predilection is not
for farming and though his success has been
gratifying he feels that he has done his
share in the line, and he contemplates turn-
ing his attention to some commercial or me-
chanical pursuit when favorable opportunity
shall offer, and as he is in the vigor of his
young manhood, is fortified with excellent
education and has shown marked executive
ability and business acumen, a continued
success may be predicted for him in what-
soever field he sees fit to turn his effort. He
has carried on general farming, having made
somewhat of a specialty of raising swine,
and his place is one which is a credit to him
and to the county. Mr. and Mrs. Long have
a wide circle of acquaintances and are highly
honored in the community.
DAVID A. CLEAR.
This well-known blacksmith of Green-
ville township, is a native of Darke county,
his birth occurring in German township,
August 30, 1856. His father, David Clear,
was born April 1, 1823, in German town-
ship, but he now lives in Washington town-
ship, this county, where he owns a good farm
of sixty acres. He married Esther Ann
Ross, born in German township, April 13,
1823, and both are now well advanced in
life. They have five children, namely :
Reuben ; Sophia, the wife of Abraham Haw-
kins; Maggie, the wife of John Burch, who
lives in Randolph county, Indiana, near the
Ohio state line; David A. and Jeremiah S.
With the exception of Maggie al.l make their
home in Darke county.
On the home farm David A. Clear grew
to manhood receiving a common-school edu-
cation and remaining with his parents until
attaining his majority. At the age of twen-
ty-two years he commenced learning the
blacksmith's trade, serving an apprentice-
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
301
ship of three and a half years with B. M.
Bright and J. F. Lane, and mastering the
trade in all its details during that time.
Eighteen months of this time were spent in
Coletown, Darke county, and in 1882 he em-
barked in business at his present stand. He
does a general blacksmithing business, and
being a good mechanic and reliable man he
has built up an excellent trade.
September 26, 1880, Mr. Clear was
united marriage with Miss Lila, a daughter
of Mrs. Mary Ann Arnold, of Darke county,
and to them have been born two children that
are now living, Dessie and Frank, besides
Bessie, deceased. For ten years Mr. and
Mrs. Clear have been members of the Chris-
tian church of Coletown, and take an active
interest in religious work. In his political
affairs he is a stanch Republican. He is a
well informed man who keeps abreast of the
times, and is highly respected and esteemed
by all who know him. Fraternally he is a
member of Greenville Lodge, K. of P.
LARKIN G. TURNER.
Prominent among those who have con-
tributed to the agricultural advancement
of this section of the Buckeye state is he
whose name initiates this paragraph. He is
now a valued resident of Hollandsburg, Har-
rison township, Darke county, where he is
living practically retired from the active
duties which so long claimed his attention.
Mr. Turner is a native of Wayne county,
Indiana, where he was born July 19, 1831,
his father, Jeptha Turner, having been the
first white child born in Wayne county, the
date of his nativity having been October 29,
1806. His father, John Turner, had the
distinction of being the first sheriff of
Wayne county. He was a native of Henry
county, Kentucky, was born about the year
1785, and his death occurred in 1835. The
latter married a Miss Holman, daughter of
George Holman, who was one of the earliest
settlers in Wayne county, Indiana, having
located there in 1803. The mother of the
immediate subject of this sketch bore the
maiden name of Martha Gaar, and she was
born in Wayne county, Indiana, on the 25th
of September, 1810. Her marriage to Jep-
tha Turner was solemnized January 14, 1830
and they became the parents of nine chil-
dren, namely: Larkin Gaar, subject of this
sketch; Levi P., a resident of Abington,
Wayne county, Indiana; Abraham W., of
Brazil, Clay county, Indiana, where he is a
prominent merchant; Sarah Jane, wife of
John Endsley, of the same county; Eliza
Ann Turner, who still remains at the old
home; Martin Van Buren, a resident of
Lincoln, Nebraska; John Milton, of Brazil,
Indiana; Martha Ellen, who died, unmar-
ried, at the age of twenty-eight; and Jesse
D., who remains upon the old homestead,
which he operates successfully. Al.l of the
married children are well established in life
and have small families. The father died
April 16, 1885, and his venerable widow sur-
vived him until September 15, 1890, their
remains being laid to rest in the cemetery
at Elkhorn, Indiana.
Larkin G. Turner, with whom this re-
view has more specifically to do, remained
on the old homestead until he had attained
his majority, when he entered a machine
shop at Connersville, Indiana, where he
served a careful apprenticeship of four years,
after which he farmed on rented land for a
time, being successful in his efforts. In
he made his first purchase of land, the
same -comprising one hundred acres, located
in Harrison township, which has ever since
802
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
been his home. He moved on to his farm
within the succeeding year and there con-
tinued to live and labor for the long term
of eighteen years, when he removed to his
present place, where his tenure has now con-
tinued for twelve years, so that he is known
and honored as one of the old representative
farmers of this township, being held in the
highest esteem for his integrity and ability.
On the 15th of February, 1855, Mr.
Turner was united in marriage to Miss Sarah
Endsley, whose brother married a sister of
our subject, as has already been noted. Mrs
Turner was born March 3, 1835, and of her
marriage four children have been born:
Clara, wife of X. T. Irelan, of Hollansburg,
is the mother of seven children; John Perry
Turner, also of this township, is married and
has one son and one daughter; Rose Emma,
wife of Henry Wolfal, who operates the
homestead farm of our subject, and has two
daughters, and Charles F. Turner, who died
at the age of two years.
Fraternally Mr. Turner is a Master
Mason, having been prominently identi-
fied with this time honored order for
the long period of thirty-five years, hav-
ing been initiated into its mysteries July
21. 1865, an< i having served as master of
Bethel Lodge, No. 250. F. & A. M., of
Wayne county, Indiana, for two terms. In
his political adherency he is a Democrat,
and in 1859 was elected on that ticket a jus-
tice of the peace of Abington township,
'Wayne county, Indiana, where he served two
terms. After his removal to Darke county
he was five times elected to this honorable
office, in which he served with marked abil-
ity and discretion, and in 1891 he was ac-
corded the honor of being elected as a di-
rector of the county infirmary, in which ca-
pacity he served two terms. He has several
times been called upon to preside over the
destinies of Hollansburg, as president of its
board of trustees, is at the present time the
incumbent of that position and at this writing
is just entering upon his third term as justice
of the peace.
Mr. and Mrs. Turner inherited the farm
owned by her father. Her grandfather,
John Endsley, came from North Carolina to
Wayne county, Indiana, in 1805, the latter's
father having been a native of Ireland. Our
subject has a well denned genealogical record
of his mother's family, the Gaar line, the
same running back two hundred and seven-
ty-five years. The family has been one of
marked prominence in the history of Wayne
county, Indiana, and in the annals of the
nation, as is evident when the fact is recalled
that the family had three representatives in
the war of the Revolution ; fifteen in the war
of 1812; sixteen in the Mexican war; while
in the war of the Rebellion over one hun-
dred members were enlisted in the Union
armies and a practically equal number in the
Confederate forces.
JACOB HALDERMAN.
For many years this gentleman has re-
sided in Darke county and his name is in-
separably connected with the agricultural
and building interests of this region. Hi
thoroughly American spirit and his great
energy have enabled him to mount from a
lowly position to one of affluence. One of
his leading characteristics in business affairs
is his fine sense of order and complete sys-
tem and the habit of giving careful atten-
tion to details, without which success in any
undertaking is never assured.
Mr. Halderman was born in Dayton,
Ohio, October 25, 1835, and is a son of
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
303
John Halderman, a native of Pennsylvania,
who settled in Dayton the year of our sub-
ject's birth, and died there when his son
was only three years old. At that tender
age Mr. Halderman passed to the care of
strang'ers and relatives, and when twelve
years old went to Indiana, where he spent
two years. At the end of that time he came
to Darke county, Ohio, where he worked
as a farm hand one year, and then served
an apprenticeship to Reuben Heffner, a con-
tractor, at the carpenter's trade, and re-
mained with him as a journeyman after his
apprenticeship was complete, being in his
emplo\ r nine years. In the meantime he had
attained man's estate, and at the end of that
period commenced contracting and build-
ing on his own account, at the same time
carrying on farming on rented land. In
1861 he rented a farm of one hundred and
twenty acres in Greenville township, which
he subsequently purchased, and to which he
has since added until he now has a valuable
and well improved farm of two hundred and
sixty acres. Upon his place he has erected
commodious barns of the best construction,
a fine residence, tobacco sheds, granaries,
etc. His principal crops are wheat, corn
and tobacco, and he also gives considerable
attention to the raising of hogs. He is one
of the most intelligent and successful farm-
ers of the county.
December 27, i860, Mr. Halderman was
united in marriage with Miss Mary Baker,
by whom he had seven children, but one
died in infancy unnamed. The others are
Lenta, the wife of S. E. Bishop, of Hamil-
ton. Ohio; Alice, the wife of William Mc-
Neil, of Columbus, this state; Ida Bird, the
wife of \Y. J. Wagner, a farmer and school
teacher of Darke county; Herschel V., a
resident of El Paso, Texas ; Elnora, at
18
home ; and Pearl, the wife of William G.
Bishop, of Greenville. The mother of these
children died in 1875, aged thirty-six years.
For his second wife Mr. Halderman mar-
ried Miss Frances E. Helm, a native of
Darke county and a daughter of Eli and
Catherine (Zimmerman) Helm, and to them
was born a son. Roll H.
In Mr. Halderman we have a perfect
illustration of a self-made man. Being left
an orphan at the age of three years, he be-
gan the battle of life much younger than
most men, and his success has been phenom-
enal, though of a steady, healthful growth.
For twenty-eight years he has been con-
nected with Greenville Lodge, I. O.
O. F.. and is also a member of the En-
campment and Patriarchs Militant. He has
filled all the chairs in the subordinate lodge
and encampment. He has also served as
ensign and lieutenant in the Patriarchs Mil-
itant. Politically he is a supporter of the
Democratic party and has served as town-
ship trustee and in other minor offices. To
strangers he is always most cordial and enter-
taining and is widely and favorably known
throughout his adopted county.
JOHN G. FRANK.
On sections 17 and 18, Harrison town-
ship, is located the fine farmstead of one
hundred and twenty-six acres which is
owned and cultivated by the gentleman
whose name introduces this review, and we
are pleased to give a resume of his career in
this connection, for he stands forth as one
of the leading German-American citizens of
Darke county and as a representative of our
best yeoman that has gained to this section
its reputation as one of the most attractive
804
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
farming communities in the favored state,
noted for its agricultural pre-eminence.
John George Frank was born in Wur-
temberg. Germany, the 26th of May, 1834,
and when a young man of twenty, in 1854,
emigrated to America for the purpose of
trying his fortunes in the new world, where
he felt better opportunities were offered to
the energetic and industrious young men.
He made the eventful voyage on a sailing
vessel, and after leaving Bremen fifty-three
days elapsed ere the boat dropped anchor
in the port of New York. A stranger in a
strange land. Mr. Frank at once set about
making his way, being determined to suc-
ceed, if success could be gained by honest
and earnest endeavor. He stopped for a
time on the Delaware river, fifteen miles
north of Philadelphia, where he secured
work as a farm hand at eight dollars per
month. He had but a small amount of cash
when he left home and fatherland, and when
he reached America his financial reinforce-
ment amounted to only ten dollars. After
remaining in Pennsylvania for four and
one-half months he came on to the west,
being employed for about the same length
of time in a wagon shop at Richmond, In-
diana, after which he identified himself with
the interests of Darke county, coming to
Harrison township, hiring out by the month
until the winter of 1857. On the 5th of
December of that year Mr. Frank showed
his confidence in himself and his ability to
succeed by assuming a definite responsibil-
ity, being then united in marriage to Miss
Jemima Brown, who was born in this town-
ship on the 17th of December, 1833, the
daughter of Edward Brown, who is still liv-
ing at the venerable age of ninety-two years,
being one of the wealthy and honored farm-
ers of the county. He was born in Penn-
sylvania and his marriage to Miss Mary M.
Blocher, who was born near York, that state,
was solemnized in Harrison township, Darke
county. Mrs. Brown died in Madison in
1888, at the age of seventy-eight years, hav-
ing become the mother of three sons and
six daughters, of whom the three sons are
living and only one of the daughters, —
Mrs. Frank, the estimable wife of our sub-
ject. Her brothers are farmers in this town-
ship and in contiguous sections of Indiana,
and the venerable father now makes his
home with his children, being cared for with
the deepest filial solicitude and being now
feeble and broken in health by reason of
great age.
Mr. and Mrs. Frank have become the
parents of four sons and four daughters,
of whom we offer the following brief rec-
ord : Mary is the wife of Philip Rogers,
a successful farmer of Washington town-
ship, this county, and they have six children ;
Sarah Jane is the wife of Newton Rogers
and is the mother of seven children ; Fred-
erick W. resides on the old homestead, which
he operates for his father; he married Alice
Miller and they have four sons and two
daughters : Jonas A., who is a successful fruit
grower, residing north of Greenville, this
county, is married and has seven children ;
Rebecca is the wife of Charles Albright and
has one child; Charles Edward,' a meat
dealer in Hollansburg, is married and has
one daughter; John G. is a tenant fanner in
an adjoining county in Indiana, and of his
marriage two children were born, but both
are deceased; Emma is the wife of Leonard
Moore, who resides in this immediate vi-
cinity, and they have one son ; and the other
child of our subject and wife was a son who
died at the age of seven months.
In the year 1859 Mr. Frank purchased
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
805
fifty-two acres of land, the same being a
portion of his present farm, and for this
original tract he paid thirty dollars per acre,
no permanent improvements having been
made on the place, and the young man hav-
ing to assume an indebtedness for a por-
tion of the purchase price. He erected a
small frame house, one story in height and
16x24 feet in dimensions, and also put up
a log barn. The original house is now a
part of his present attractive and com-
modious residence and is occupied by his
son. Improvements were made as rapidly
as circumstances would permit, — he erected
a small frame barn eventually, and in 1879
built his large and well equipped barn, 42X
52 feet in dimensions, and in 1885 the new-
residence of two stories was erected. Mr.
Frank has made three additions to the
acreage of his farm since his original pur-
chase, and he now has one hundred and
twenty-six. acres under a fine state of culti-
vation and devoted to mixed farming - . He
makes it a point to rotate crops every three
years, thus keeping up the vitality of the
land. He also raises swine somewhat ex-
tensively and keeps a dairy of from sixteen
to twenty high-grade Jersey cows, all
eligible for registration. He operates his
own creamery, the products of which find
ready demand in the direct family trade con-
trolled in Richmond.
Mr. and Mrs. Frank are members of the
German Baptist church, in whose direct and
collateral work they have an abiding inter-
est, our subject being a deacon in the church.
In politics he gives his support to the Dem-
ocratic party, but he has invariably declined
to accept official preferment. He and his
wife continue to be actively concerned in the
affairs of the homestead, though the opera-
tion of the farm has been consigned to their
son, who is a practical and capable young
agriculturist and business man. They en-
joy a marked popularity in the community
and the high estimation in which they are
held stands in unmistakable evidence of their
sterling worth of character. The farm is
one of the most attractive in this section and
everything about the place gives indication
of the care and attention bestowed. On the
place Mr. Frank has a sorghum mill, which
has brought a good revenue and has yielded
much valuable fertilizing material.
REUBEN BROYYX.
Among the reliable and progressive citi-
zens who have given their attention to the
basic art of husbandry and have aided ma-
terially in advancing the interests and sub-
stantial development of Darke county is
Reuben Brown, whose finely improved and
well cultivated farm is located on section 20,
Harrison township, his postoffice address be-
ing Whitewater, Indiana. Mr. Brown was
born on a farm one mile northeast of his
present place, on the 20th day of May, 1840,
his father being Edward Brown, who was
born in the vicinity of Baltimore, Maryland,
on the 28th of March, 1809. The latter's
father, John Brown, was likewise a native
of Maryland, whence he emigrated to Ohio
as early as 18 17. He was twice married, his
first union being with Mina Stochsiel, whom
he wedded in the year 1802, and who bore
him seven sons and one daughter. Her
death occurred in February, 1834. Of the
second marriage no children were born.
Grandfather John Brown died at about the
age of sixty years. He was an extensive
land-owner in this section of Ohio, having
entered a half-section here, and his first
abiding place in the frontier wilds was a
306
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
sort of a tent, made by setting up a series
of poles in conical shape and covering them
with blankets. He finally erected a more
substantial dwelling, of hewed logs, and also
put up a large barn of the same character.
He was a sturdy and energetic pioneer and
cleared up his farm, making the large tract
one of the most valuable in this section.
Edward Brown, father of our subject,
chose for his companion on life's journey
Miss Mary Magdalene Blocher, who was
burn in Pennsylvania, the daughter of Joseph
Blocher, who was one of the early pioneers
of Darke county. Edward and Mary M.
Brown became the parents of nine children,
of whom six lived to attain maturity, name-
ly : Jemima, who is the wife of John G.
Frank, to whom specific attention is di-
rected on another page of this work; Mary,
who became the wife of Andrew Wind-
miller, was born in 1838 and died in 1884,
leaving four sons and four daughters ;
Reuben is the immediate subject of this
sketch ; Jonas is an extensive farmer in
Huntington county, Indiana; Frederick is
engaged in agricultural pursuits in Wayne
ci unity, Indiana ; and Malinda, the wife of
Uriah Dowler, died in 1892, at the age of
forty years, leaving three children. The
mother of our subject entered into eternal
rest October 10, 1878, but the father is still
living, having attained the patriarchal age
of ninety-two years, and having made his
home with his children since 1892.
Reuben Brown became inured to the
duties of the farm at a very early age, and
his educational advantages were of limited
scope, but the fundamental training which
he received in the primitive schools has
been most effectively supplemented by that
valuable learning which is the result of per-
sonal application and participation in the
practical activities of life. He remained on
the old homestead until he had attained his
majority, when he assumed connubial re-
sponsibilities, being united in marriage on
the 25th of April, 1861, to Miss Esther
Bausman, who was born in Miami county,
Ohio, the daughter of John and Esther
(Weneich) Bailsman, who became the par-
ents of four sons and five daughters, all of
whom are living except one daughter, a
brief record concerning them being here in-
corporated: David, a resident of Harper
county, Kansas, has eight children; Thom-
as, of Wabash county, Indiana, has twelve
children ; Eli, a resident of Henry county,
Missouri, has five children; Daniel, a pros-
perous farmer of Neave township, Darke
county, has two children; Harriet, widow
of Solomon Bollinger, is a resident of Wa-
bash county, Indiana, and has two children :
Esther, who is the wife of Mr. Brown, of
this review ; Fannie, wife of Jacob Root,
died in Kansas, leaving no issue ; Susanna,
the wife of William Fry, has one son; and
Elizabeth, wife of Elias Rogers, has four
children.
Mr. and Mrs. Brown lost one son ami
one daughter in infancy, and of the chil-
dren who attained maturity we make more
detailed mention, as follows: Frances I.,
wife of Jacob Hollinger, has two children;
Harriet Rebecca is the wife of John Hol-
linger, and has five children; Lydia is the
wife of Thomas Jordan; Amanda Victoria
is at the parental home ; Elva L. is at home ;,
John Edward, who is now a student at
Dayton, Ohio, is a successful teacher; Eli
Roscoe died September 27, 1889, at the
age of fifteen years; Jennie Leola, Cyrus
Oscar, Alpheus,, Efne Melinda and Esther
Magdalene are at home.
In national affairs Mr. Brown gives his
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
C07
support to the Democratic party, but in
local elections he supports the man whom
he considers most eligible for office, being
liberal in his views. He served one term as
road supervisor, but has no desire for offi-
cial preferment. He farms upon an ex-
tensive scale, and brings to bear a practical
knowledge and a wise discrimination which
have conserved his success in this import-
ant field of endeavor. He owns two farms,
having an aggregate area of two hundred
and five acres, and by the careful rotation
of crops he keeps his land in excellent pro-
ductive condition, giving also considerable
attention to the raising of a high grade of
live stock. He has an annual product of
from two to three thousand bushels of corn
and ten to twelve hundred of wheat. From
a fine herd of twelve Jersey cows he obtains
the best of butter, for which a ready demand
is always found. He purchased his fine
farms in 1871, and is known as one of the
representative agriculturists and able busi-
ness men of the county. Mrs. Brown is a
zealous member of the Dunkard church, and
is a woman of many graces of character, and
she is highly esteemed in the social circles
of the community.
JOHN PARENT.
■ The career of him whose name heads
this review illustrates most forcibly the pos-
sibilities that are open to a young man who
possesses sterling business qualifications. It
proves that ambition, perseverance, steadfast
purpose and indefatigable industry, com-
bined with sound business principles, will be
rewarded, and that true success follows in-
dividual effort only.
Mr. Parent was born near New Madison,
Ohio, February 17, 1830, a son of William
and Hannah (Ellston) Parent, both natives
of New Jersey. The father was born near
Monmouth, in 1804, and at an early day
came to Darke county, Ohio. In 1835 he
purchased one hundred and sixty acres of
land in Washington township, only three
acres of which had been cleared, the other
being covered with a heavy growth of tim-
ber. Wild animals, such as bears and wolves,
were plentiful, and Indians still roamed
through the forests. While Mr. Parent and
his wife were clearing their land and encoun-
tering dangers incident to such a life, their
family of children were increased to eight
five of whom are still living, namely : George,
a resident of Union City, Indiana ; Mrs. Eliz-
abeth Barr, of Washington township, Darke
county; Mrs. Amy J. Roe, of Jackson town-
ship; William Henry Harrison, of Ander-
son, Indiana; and John, our subject. As was
the case with all early settlers, their educa-
tional advantages were very limited. The
old log schoolhouse was reached after
tramping through miles of almost impene-
trable undergrowth and the rod was strongly
in evidence. The father died Monday, No-
vember 28, 1887, on the farm where he first
settled, but the place had been enlarged until
it contained one hundred and ninety acres.
John Parent grew to manhood on the
home farm, and was married, October 6,
1852, to Miss Ann Arnold, the ceremony
being performed by Aaron Hiiler, at his
home near Sharpeye. The young couple be-
gan their domestic life on his father's farm,
but two years later Mr. Parent purchased
eighty acres of wooded land five miles dis-
tant, which was school property, and for
which he paid four hundred and eighty dol-
lars, buying it on twelve years' time. He used
to walk five miles twice each day while clear-
ing a space and erecting a cabin thereon. In
308
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
that primitive abode the family lived for ten
years. At the end of six years Mr. Parent
had succeeded in paying off the debt on his
place, which was chiefly done by fattening
calves for market. He would buy them in
the spring at a nominal price, and allow them
to run in the wild pasture until fall, when
they were sold at a good profit. For seven
years he operated a sawmill in connection
with his farming, and at the opening of the
civil war he sold his eighty-acre farm for
two thousand dollars, his sawmill for the
same amount, which, together with his two
thousand dollars he had saved from the
profis of both made six thousand dol-
lars, that had been accumulated in ten
years. On starting out in life for
himself his father had given him a colt
which he sold for seventy-five dollars, which
was the capital that he had to embark in
business with. Prosperity has attended his
well-directed efforts, and he has been able to
give his children ten thousand dollars, at
different times. He still owns two hundred
and fifteen acres of fine farming land, and
is at the head of an extensive grain business
in Union City, where he owns two elevators.
While Mr. Parent and his wife were
laboring and prospering six children came to
biess their union, four of whom are now
living: Mrs. Alice Cramer, who is the wife
of a lumber dealer of New Orleans, Louis-
iana, and they have two daughters; Dora,
who is the wife of George A. Lambert, the
latter being at the head of the extensive
Buckeye Factory of Anderson, Indiana,
whose products are chiefly gas engines, and
they have one son and two daughters ; Addie,
who is the wife of Thomas G. Warren, a
machinist of Cleveland , Ohio, and they also
have one son and two daughters; and W. G.,
who has charge of his father's grain busi-
ness in Union City. One son, John, died
August 1 6, 1895, aged twenty-six years,
and a daughter, Mrs. Luella Edgar, died
September 22, 1891, at Colorado Springs,
Colorado, where she had been taken with the
hopes of prolonging her life. Miss Acha
Roe, a daughter of Mr. Parent's sister, has
made her home with our subject and his wife
since she was only four days old.
In looking into the clear eye and strong
countenance of Mr. Parent one would be
led to suppose that every educational advan-
tage had been his portion instead of early
struggles and privations and a continuous
life of hard labor. His estimable wife has
been to him a true helpmeet and the prosper-
ity that has come to them is certainly well-
merited. They are both well-preserved and
in good health and are now enjoying the
fruits of their labors in a beautiful home
near Union City, where they are surrounded
by every comfort and many luxuries.
CHARLES W. RARICK, A. M., M. D.
Dr. Charles Wesley Rarick is numbered
among the native sons of Darke county, his
birth having occurred in Washington town-
ship, on the 9th of December, 1843. His
great-great-grandfather was born at Erbach,
Wittenberg, Germany, in 1722, and in 1749
crossed the Atlantic to America arriving in
Philadelphia on the 2d of September. There
he spent his remaining days, passing away in
1799. He was the father of seven children,
including Henry Rarick, the great-grand-
father of our subject. He was born in the
city which his father had chosen for his
home on arriving in the new world. His
birth occurred in 1755, and he died at his
home west of Dayton in 1819. He had a
family of seven children, one of whom was
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
309
Philip Rarick, who was born in Pennsyl-
vania, in 1774, and died near Sharpeye,
Darke county, Ohio, on the William Ellston
farm, in 1844. Philip Rarick, Jr., the Doc-
tor's father, was born in 1808, and was four
times married, becoming the father of fif-
teen children. He first wedded Miss Sarah
Chenoweth, who was born October 2, 181 1,
and by their union they became the parents
of ten children. By his third wife the father
had five children. Those of the first mar-
riage were: Abraham C, who was born
April 12, 1833. and served in the Civil
war for two years with the rank of second
lieutenant, is now a farmer and cattle-raiser
in Clark county, Iowa; Isaac N., born April
19, 1835, is a practicing physician of Red-
key, Indiana; Jacob J., born May 2, 1837,
was for four years a soldier in the Civil war,
rose to the rank of major, and is now a
teacher and farmer in Lawrence, Kansas;
David H., born February 28, 1839, died six
months later; Adam C, born Juiy 5, 1841,
is a stock-raiser in Clark county, Iowa, where
he owns one thousand acres of land, all of
which except forty-seven acres, he has ac-
cumulated since the close of the Civil war,
in which he served for four years in the
Iowa Volunteer Infantry; Charles W. is the
next of the family; Ira O., born December
23, 1845, ^ s a farmer and dairyman in Har-
nsonville, Missouri ; Susanna B., born June
30, 1848, .is the wife of Charles A. More-
house, a farmer of Jay county, Indiana,
living near Hector ; Caroline, born July 20,
1850, is the wife of Samuel L. Roberts, and
in the spring of 1900 they traded a horse
ranch in western Nebraska for a farm near
Dunnville. Indiana, upon which they now
reside; and Catherine, born March 25, 1853,
died at the age of sixteen years. The chil-
dren of the third marriaire were Mrs. Elsie
Green, Mrs. Rosie Tharp, Mrs. Clara Wall,
Mrs. Cora Carbaugh and John, and all are
living near Deerfield, Indiana. The father of
these children died September 1, 1886, and
the Doctor's mother passed away on the 6th
of March, 1863.
Dr. Rarick began his education in the
country schools, which he attended about
thirteen weeks during the winter season.
Throughout the remainder of the year he as-
sisted his father in the operation of the farm,
aiding in clearing and developing two hun-
dred and eighty acres of land. He was thus
engaged at the time of the Civil war, when,
prompted by a spirit of patriotism, he put
aside all personal considerations and on the
28th of August, 1862, joined the volunteer
service of the country, in Company H, One
Hundredth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, re-
maining at the front until peace was de-
clared. He participated in thirty battles and
escaped uninjured. His was a very honorable
record, one of which he may well be proud.
After the close of the war the Doctor en-
tered Liber College, near Portland, Indiana,
and there pursued his studies for fourteen
months. After teaching and attending school
until March 11, 1869, he matriculated in Ma-
rietta College and was graduated in 1874,
with the degree of bachelor of arts. Three
years later his alma mater conferred upon
him the degree of master of arts. Subse-
quently the Doctor studied medicine and was
engaged in teaching school for several years.
He was the superintendent of the Ridgeville
school for one year and was known as a suc-
cessful educator, having the ability to im-
part clearly and concisely to others the
knowledge he had acquired. In 1S83 he re-
ceived his diploma as a medical practitioner
and has since been successfully engaged in
practice, having for more than seventeen
310
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
years occupied a suite of rooms over the
Farmers' National Bank in Greenville. He
has been a close student of his profession,
has kept abreast of the times in his work, and
his knowledge of the medical science is com-
prehensive and accurate. ■
On the ioth of March, 1880. was cele-
brated the marriage of Dr. Rarick and Miss
Ella J. Griffin, who was born in Montgomery-
county Ohio, March 17, 1852. One son,
Harry G, was born to them December 12,
1880. and was graduated in the public
scln I' ils of Greenville, in May, 1899. The
family occupy an enviable position in social
circles and enjoy the hospitality of many of
the best homes in the city. The Doctor has
gained enviable prestige in his chosen call-
ing and to-day ranks among the leading rep-
resentatives of one of the most noble and
humane professions to which man can devote
his energies.
SAMUEL PAULIN.
Samuel Paulin, deceased, was born in
Mahoning county, Ohio, May 15, 1822, a
son of Peter Paulin, a native of Pennsylva-
nia and of German origin. In Peter Pau-
lin's family were eleven children, eight sons
and three daughters, of whom Samuel was
the fourth son. He was reared on his fa-
ther's farm and was more or less interested
in farming the greater part of his life.
When a young man lie served an apprentice-
ship to the trade of carpenter. After his
marriage, which event occurred in 1844, he
settled in his native county, where he con-
tinued to reside for five years, coming thence
in 1849 to Darke county and settling at
the "Beach," which was his home six years,
his time during this period being devoted
to contracting and building-. He did as
much work perhaps as any other contractor
in the county, if not more. Country
life then becoming rather monotonous for
him, he moved to Greenville, where, how-
ever, he resided but a year. Then purchasing
a farm in Adams township, he removed with
his family to it, in the year 1861, and here
he passed the rest of his life in agricultural
pursuits. He died October 7, 1895.
Mr. Paulin was a man of many excellent
traits of character. Honorable and upright
in all his dealings, his word was always re-
garded as good as his bond. He was inter-
ested in everything he believed was for the
good of the community in which he lived and
he could he counted upon to support any
worthy enterprise. He was a strong tem-
perance advocate. Formerly a Republican,
he left that party in order to cast his vote
with the Prohibition party, with which he
affiliated up to the time of his death. He
was for fifty-one years a member of the
Evangelical church, in which he was an act-
ive and efficient worker, and for a period of
forty-one years was a reader of the Evangeli-
cal Messenger. Mrs. Paulin is also a devot-
ed member of this church and continues to
take and read the Messenger.
Before her marriage Mrs. Paulin was
Miss Lucinda Martin. She was born in Ma-
honing county, Ohio, May 3, 1826. a daugh-
ter of George and Susan ( Smich ) Martin,
both natives of Maryland, her father by oc-
cupation a farmer. She was the third born
in a family of six children, the other mem-
bers of the family being as follows : Aptill,
who resides on the old homestead in Mahon-
ing county: Neazer, deceased; Harriet, wife
of Solomon Martin, of New Middleton, Ma-
honing county: Lena, deceased; and Lucy,
deceased. Mrs. Paulin is the only one of
the family in Darke county, and she still re
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
311
sides on the farm above referred to in Adams
township, a tract of ninety-two acres, which
is operated by her son. She is the mother of
seven children and her grandchildren and
great-grandchildren now constitute a large
number. Of her children six are still living,
namely : Sarah, who is the wife of Benjamin
Gower, a hotel man of Arcanum, Ohio, and
has three children — James, Edward and
Nannie ; Lucy, who is the wife of Clay Fork-
ertz, of Indianapolis, and has five children —
Bert, John, Harry, Samuel and Walter;
Amos, who married Mary Sentman and lives
in Gettysburg, Ohio, and has one son, Lew-
is, who is married and has one child, Amos
H. ; Nancy, deceased, was twice married,
first, to John Dunn, and after his death to
Phillip Albright, the children by both mar-
riages being deceased ; Calvin, who married
Martha Shuetce and is the father of six
children, two of whom — Lula and Nettie —
are living; and Tobias, who married Molly
"Willis and has had five children, four of
whom are living — Dora, Elsworth, James
and William.
Tobias Paulin resides on the home place
with his mother and conducts the farming
operations.
ELIAS D. SNYDER, M. D.
Among those who devote their time and
energies to the practice of medicine and have
gained a leading place in the ranks of the
profession is Dr. Snyder, of Arcanum, Ohio.
He is a native of Maryland, born on the old
homestead in the beautiful Antietam valley
August 20. 1837, and is of German descent.
His grandfather, Jacob Snyder, was born
near Hagerstown. Washington county,
Maryland, and lived to the age of ninety-
four years, while his wife reached the age of
ninety-two, and her mother, who was a Miss
Wyand before marriage, lived to the ad-
vanced age of one hundred and two years.
He was blind the last thirty years of his
life.
John A. Snyder, the Doctor's father,
was born on the old homestead in Wash-
ington county, Maryland, in 1807, and
married Elizabeth Ann Benner. In 1838
they came to Ohio by wagon with several
other families and stopped for a short time
near Winchester. Preble county. Mr. Sny-
der then purchased a farm of sixty-one
acres west of Dayton in Montgomery coun-
ty and subsequently removed to West Alex-
andria, Preble county, where he lived retired
until his death in 1892. During his long
and useful career he was honored and highly
esteemed by all with whom he came in con-
tact, and was called upon to fill several local
offices. His wife, who was born in 1810,
died in 1890. Both were consistent mem-
bers of the United Brethren church. Their
children were Aaron \V., a resident of Preble
county; Elias D., our subject; Jacob S.. who
served four months in Company F, One
Hundred and Thirty-first Ohio Volunteer
Infantry, during the civil war, and is now
a resident of Preble county ; and Marietta,
who married Elias Mumma and died in West
Alexandria. Ohio.
It was during his infancy that Dr. Sny-
der was brought by his parents to this state,
and during his early life, spent in Preble
ci >unty, he saw much of the pioneer life of
this section. He attended the country
schools until twenty years of age, and dur-
ing the following ten years successfully en-
gaged in teaching school. Having deter-
mined to enter the medical profession, he
studied under Drs. Huggins & Campbell, of
312
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
West Alexandria, for three years, and then
entered the Ohio Medical College, where he
was graduated with the class of 1872. The
same year he opened an office in Arcanum,
where he has since actively engaged in prac-
tice and has met with marked success. For
four years he was in partnership with Dr.
Donavan Robeson, but with that exception
has been alone.
In 1865 Dr. Snyder was united in mar-
riage with Miss Elizabeth Myers, a native
of Preble county and a daughter of John
and Mary (Russell) Myers, and by this
union was born one child, John Arthur,
who married Emma Gerder and has one
child.
During the dark days of the civil war
Dr. Snyder enlisted as a private in Com-
pany C, One Hundred and Thirty-first Ohio
Volunteer Infantry, for one hundred days'
service, and with his regiment was located
in and about Baltimore. Maryland, until dis-
charged. Religiously he is an active mem-
ber of the United Brethren church. The
Doctor is one of the oldest practitioners in
Darke county. On first coming to Arcanum
he visited many of his country patients on
horseback and sometimes in a light sulky,
as the roads were bad, and he often had to
tie his horse at some point along the road
and walk the rest of the way. His skill and
thorough knowledge of medicine soon won
him the confidence and esteem of the people
and he was not long in building up an ex-
tensive and lucrative practice. A man of
prudent foresight and good business capacity.
he has invested in farming property, and
now has a fine farm of seventy-two acres
in Van Buren township, especially adapted
to tobacco culture. His crop off eight acres
has brought him one thousand dollars in one
season, and in three years he has made three
thousand dollars from the same tract. He
also owns an interest in a farm in West
Alexandria.
ANDREW JACKSON DOWNING.
For a quarter of a century this well-
known and popular druggist has been promi-
nently identified with the business interests
of Hollansburg, and his affairs have been so
managed as to win him the confidence of the
public and the prosperity which should al-
ways attend honorable effort.
A native of Darke county, Mr. Downing
was born in Harrison township, February
9, 1840, and is a son of Robert Jay and In-
diana (BairdJ Downing. He traces his an-
cestry back to Sergeant John Downing, a
native of Ireland, who came to America in
Colonial days and served for eight years in
the colonial war, taking part with Francis
Marion in the battle of Cowpens. He was
born in 1726, anil died in South Carolina
when about seventy years of age. being laid
to rest three miles from the town of Ches-
ter. His son, John, our subject's grandfa-
ther, was born in Chester county, South Car-
olina, December 7, 1776, and died in Harri-
son township, Darke county, Ohio, May 17,
1870. He was a remarkable man physically
and possessed his strength up to the last,
dying of an acute disease of the bladder at
the age of ninety-four years. From South
Carolina he removed to Lexington, Ken-
tucky, and in 181 7 came to New Paris. Ohio.
At one time he owned about a section of
land in this county, having entered the same
at the land office, and paying for it one dollar
and a quarter per acre. Some three hundred
acres of the original tract is still in posses-
sion of the family. He married Margaret
Faris, a native of Ireland, and to them were
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
313
born seven children, five sons and two
daughters, who reached adult age.
Robert J. Downing, the father of our
subject, was born in Bourbon county, Ken-
tucky, and was only two years old when
brought by his parents to Darke county,
Ohio, locating on a tract of government land
in Harrison township. About 1836 he mar-
ried Indiana Baird, of Butler township, this
county, a daughter of John Baird, and to
them were born eleven children, of whom
three sons and five daughters reached man
and womanhood, and five are still fixing,
namely: Andrew J., our subject; Margaret,
wife of Henry Sells, of Hollansburg; Jason;
Ella A., wife of Mark T. Mills, of Ennis,
Ellis county, Texas ; and Amanda E., wife of
A. A. Loudenslager, of Harrison township,
this county. The mother died at the age of
sixty-five years and was buried in New Mad-
ison, and the father died at the age of
seventy-three and was buried in Hollans-
burg.
The boyhood and youth of Andrew J.
Downing was passed upon his father's farm
and he was educated in the district schools
of the neighborhood. On leaving the par-
ental roof at the age of twenty-three years,
he commenced teaching and followed that oc~
cupation for five years. In June, 1875. he
opened a drug store in Hollansburg, and has
since devoted his entire time and attention
to that business, having built up a good trade.
Besides his business property he owns a
pleasant residence in the village which he
has rebuilt.
May 31, 1863, Mr. Downing was unit-
ed in marriage with Miss Rebecca A. Gib-
son, of this county, a daughter of Nathan
Gibson, and to them were born three chil-
dren,namely : Orville A., a farmer of German
township, who is married and has five chil-
dren, four sons and one daughter, Eleanora,
who married George W. Skinner, of Arba,
Indiana, and they have three children; and
Harry H., who died at the age of two years.
Mr. and Mrs. Downing are both active
and faithful members of the Christian
church, of which he is a trustee, and are
held in high regard by all who know them.
He affiliates with the Democratic party, and
has most efficiently served as township
clerk four years, village trustee two years,
and councilman four years. In all the rela-
tions of life he has been found true to every
trust reposed in him, whether public or pri-
vate, and is justly numbered among the
useful and valued citizens of his commu-
nitv.
WILSON S. BOWERS.
Wilson S. Bowers, a prominent contrac-
tor and carpenter residing on the old home-
stead farm in Mississinawa township, Darke
county, Ohio, was born in Twin township,
Preble county, this state, July 14, 1848. His
father, John Bowers, was born in Montgom-
ery county, Ohio, May 6, 18 14, a son of
Samuel and Elizabeth (Emerick) Bowers,
pioneers of this state. Samuel Bowers was
born in Berks county, Pennsylvania, about
1785^ and died near West Alexandria, Preble
county, this state, in 1869. In his fam-
ily were nine children, five sons and four
daughters, all of whom married and with
one exception all reared families of their
own. Only one is now living, George, a
resident of Tippecanoe a unity, Indiana. The
grandfather was a cooper by trade, and was
one of the soldiers who fought against the
Indians at Fort Defiance.
In 1837 John Bowers, the father of our
subject, married Catherine Judy, who was
314
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
born in Rockingham county, Virginia, Jan-
uary 5, 1813, a daughter of Frederick and
Polly (Hoover) Judy, who moved to Preble
county, Ohio, in 1817. Both her parents
died of milk-sickness, and were buried in
one grave at Lewisburg, Ohio. She is the
only one of their seven children now living.
Her sister, Sarah, who was born March 13,
1807, died in November, 1898. After their
marriage Mr. and Mrs. Bowers lived on
rented farms in Preble county until Septem-
ber 24, 1857, when they moved to the farm
on section 14, Mississinawa township, Darke
county, now owned by their sons, Cornelius
and Wilson S. In the midst of the forest
they made their home. Wild game was still
plentiful, and Cornelius has a fine pair of
antlers from a noble buck that he and his
father killed in the winter of 1866, it being
the last one killed in this region. For his
farm of one hundred and fifteen acres the
father paid twelve hundred dollars in cash,
which he made by honest toil and strict
economy. Here he died October 25, 1872,
honored and respected by all who knew him,
but the mother is still living and retains her
faculties unimpaired. They had five chil-
dren, namely: Lovey, the wife of John
Briner, a farmer living near the old home-
stead, by whom she has six children : Will-
iam, who died at the age of twenty-seven
years, leaving a wife and one son, Ronert;
Elizabeth, who died at the age of twenty-
four years; Cornelius, who lives on the old
homestead with his mother; and Wilson S.,
our subject.
Wilson S. Bowers was reared in the usual
manner of farmer boys, and received a good
common school education. He remained
a^ his parental home, working much of the
time with his father at the cooper's trade un-
til twenty-six years of age, when he em-
barked in business for himself as a carpenter
and contractor. He has met with success
in this venture, and is today quite well-to-do.
He and his brother have a good farm of
eighty acres, and he also owns an adjoin-
ing" tract of six acres.
On the 25th of May, 1873, Mr. Bowers
was united in marriage with Miss Mary A.
Condon, of Warren county, Ohio, and they
have eight children: John H., who is mar-
ried and lives in Union City, Ohio; William
C, who is working at the carpenter's trade,
with his father; James A., a young widower,
who is learning the carpenter's trade;
and Wilson, Sylvia J., Mary O., Ernest and
Addie. all at home, the youngest being nine
years of age. Like the other members of his
family, Mr. Bowers is a Democrat in poli-
tics, and for seven years he most creditably
and satisfactorily served as trustee of his
township. He is one of the representative
and prominent citizens of his community,
and is highly respected and esteemed by all
who know him.
JOHN STEPHENS.
The subject of this sketch, who through-
out life has been identified with the indus-
trial and agricultural interests of Darke
county, and is now the owner of one of the
best and most desirable farms of its size in
Greenville township, was born in German
township, Darke county, November 11,
1825, a son of David and Lydia (Wagner)
Stephens, early settlers of this county. The
father was a native of Berks county, Penn-
sylvania, and a soldier of the war of 181 2.
The paternal grandfather came to Ohio
about 1818, and settled in Preble county.
John Wagner, the maternal grandfather,
was also a native of Pennsvlvania and an
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
315
early settler of Darke county. Our subject
is the third child and second son in a family
of nine children, the others being : Anna,
widow of Jesse Woods, of German town-
ship, Darke county; Joseph, a resident of
Indiana ; Mary, the widow of John McClure,
of Indiana; Catherine M., the deceased wife
of Eli Armacost, of Washington township ;
Noah and Levi, both deceased ; and Allen
and Isaac, who died during their youth.
John Stephens was reared in his native
township when most of that region was
still wild and unimproved, and his early rec-
ollections are of seeing deer, wolves and
other wild animals of the forest. lie at-
tended the" subscription schools conducted in
a log school-house with a puncheon floor,
and at the age of nineteen commenced serv-
ing an apprenticeship to the blacksmith's
trade at Palestine, Ohio, faithfully putting
in three years at the forge. Subsequently
he spent a short time in Indiana, and on
his return to Darke county located in Neave
township, where he engaged in blacksmith-
ing on his own account for three years. In
1853 he located on the farm in Greenville
township, where he now resides, and opened
a shop upon his place, which he conducted
while his farm was mainly cleared and im-
proved by hired help. It consists of one
hundred and thirty-nine acres, now under a
high state of cultivation and improved with
good and substantial buildings.
Mr. Stephens has been twice married.
February 13, 1851, in Greenville township,
he wedded Miss Maria Dininger, of Darke
county, who died August 15, 1865. Of
the seven children born of this union two
died in infancy, and only four are now liv-
ing, namely: William, who married Miss
Sarah Johnson; Margaret, the wife of II.
S. Bookwalter ; Lewis C, and Lydia, the
wife of John Sando. For his second wife
Mr. Stephens married, October 4, 1868, Ma-
tilda Finfrock, widow of Jacob Risser, and
to them have been born three children :
Alva A., who married Hattie Gurlin; John
C, who married Malinda Johnson; and
Clara, who married Stephen Rose.
Though nominally a Democrat, Mr.
Stephens may be said to be independent in
politics, voting for men and principles rather
than party. Both he and his estimable wife
are members of the Lutheran church, and
have a wide circle of friends and acquaint-
ances in the community where they reside.
CAPTAIN JOHN T. HERSHEY.
John T. Hershey, deceased, was born in
Gettysburg, Darke county, Ohio, August. 16,
1844, and in this little town passed his life,
for many years occupying a leading place
among its representative citizens.
He was a son of Jacob Hershey, who
came with his father from Pennsylvania to
Ohio at an early day and selected a location
in Darke county, where they laid out the
town of Gettysburg, with which they were
identified during the rest of their lives.
Jacob Hershey married Mary McCune, in
Darke county, and John T. was the first
born and only son in their family of three
children. He was reared at Gettysburg.
At the time the civil war broke out he was
yet in his 'teens, but, young as he was, he
was among those who were first to enlist.
He enlisted from Darke county, state of
Ohio, on September 10, 1861, and was mus-
tered into the United States service at Camp
Clark, state of Ohio, on September 12, 1861,
as a private of Company B, Forty-fourth
Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, under
Captain J. C. Langston and Colonel S. A.
310
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
Gilbert, to serve three years, or during the
Avar. He took part in the battle of Lewis-
burg, West Virginia, May 23, 1862, where
he was severely wounded through the ex-
plosion of a shell; Dutton's Hill, Kentuckv,
and others. He was honorably discharged
January 5, 1864, at Strawberry Plains,
Tennessee, on account of re-enlisting as a
veteran in Company B, Eighth Regiment,
Ohio Volunteer Cavalry, under Captain An-
son N. Thompson and Colonel A. S. Moore,
to serve three years or during the war. The
Eighth Cavalry was assigned to the Second
Brigade, Third Division, Cavalry Corps,
Army of the Potomac, and he participated in
the following engagements, viz : Coving-
ton and Otter Creek, Virginia; Lynchburg,
Liberty, Maryland Heights, Winchester and
Martinsburg, West Virginia; Fisher's Hill,
Winchester, and North Shenandoah valley,
or Lurayj Virginia; Cedar Creek, and Bev-
erly, West Virginia, October 29, 1864, where
he was captured and confined in Libby prison
for about three months and a half, when he
joined his regiment. He was appointed
sergeant February 19, 1865, and commissary
sergeant June 1, 1865. He received his
final discharge July 30, 1865, at Clarksburg,
West Virginia, on account of the close of
the war. Afterward he recruited Company
B, Third Ohio National Guards, and was
made its captain, a position he filled for a
period of eight years, and throughout his
life he took a deep interest in military af-
fairs. For a number of years he was a mem-
ber of the G. A. R.
In many ways he was identified with the
business interests of Gettysburg. He was
at one time the postmaster of the town, also
at various times filled numerous other offices,
and for a number of years previous to his
death was engaged in general merchandis-
ing, conducting a successful business. He
died March 13, 1900. A man of many laud-
able traits of character, generous and unsel-
fish, he had man)- warm friends, and was
respected by all who knew him or in any
way had dealings with him. For many years
he was prominently connected with the
Methodist Episcopal church of Gettysburg,
active in both church and Sunday school,
serving as the superintendent of the latter.
His political affiliations were with the Re-
publican party.
Mr. Hershev's widow, Mrs. Celia Jane
(Hoover) Hershey, resides at the home-
stead in Gettysburg, she being, like her hus-
band, a native of this place. Her father,
Absalom Hoover, was born, reared and mar-
ried in Miami county, Ohio, and from that
place came to Darke county in pioneer days
and established his home in the woods, in
Franklin county, southeast of Gettysburg,
where he acquired the title to one hundred
and sixty acres of land. Shortly after his
settlement here he was killed by a falling
tree. He was a member of the Christian
church, and was an active and efficient
worker in both the church and the Sunday
school, having served as superintendent of
the latter. Politically he was first a Whig
and afterward a Republican. The Hoovers,
originally Quakers, came to Ohio from
North Carolina in the early history
of the Western Reserve. Mrs. Her-
shey's mother, before marriage Sarah
Fatty, was born and reared in Miami
county, Ohio, and her father, David
Patty, like the Hoovers, came to this
state from North Carolina. The Pattys
also were Quakers. Absalom and Sarah
Hoover were the parents of six children,
three sons and three daughters, namely :
Noah, a resident of Adams township, Darke
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
317
county; Bell, deceased; Celia Jane, now
Mrs. Hershey; Charles; Albert, a teacher in
the Union City schools; and Mary, who
died in early life. Mrs. Hershey was reared
in Gettysburg, where she received her edu-
cation in the common schools, and in 1865,
at the close of the civil war, she was united
in marriage to John T. Hershey. Their
union was blessed in the birth of three chil-
dren, as follows: Mabel, the wife of J. L.
Selby, who is the principal of the Green-
ville schools; Wilbur, who died in early life;
and Gertrude, a teacher, residing with her
mother. Mrs. Hershey is a member of the
Methodist Episcopal church.
FRANK L. RYAN.
The subject of this sketch, a well-to-do
agriculturist of Greenville township, is a
typical self-made man, and in the following
record of his career there is much to arouse
respect and esteem. He has placed his reli-
ance on industry and perseverance rather
than "luck," and by making the most of cir-
cumstances, however discouraging, he has
made his way to a substantial success.
Mr. Ryan was born March 3, 1840, in the
township where he still makes his home, and
is a son of Rudolph and Ellen (Hamilton)
Ryan. The father was a native of Virginia,
but his early life was passed in Maryland,
and in the early '30s he came to Darke coun-
ty, Ohio, where he died in 1847, at the age
of forty-five years. By trade he was a shoe-
maker and followed his occupation here. His
widow was left with nine children, and with
true motherly devotion she reared them in re-
spectability and inculcated in them the ways
of industry and usefulness. She died in May,
1886. at the age of seventy-five years. The
children of the family still living are : Emily
Gilliam, Mrs. Mary Thorn, Daniel and
Frank L., all residents of Darke county; G.
\V., of Miami county, Ohio; Mrs. Eliza J.
Potter, of Reno county, Kansas; and Mrs.
Amelia Griffin, of Nebraska. William en-
listed during the civil war for three months'
service in the One Hundred and Fifty-sec-
ond Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and died in
the hospital at New Creek, West Virginia;
and John, who enlisted for three years in
the Ninety-fourth Ohio Volunteer Infantry,
was seriously wounded and captured at
Chattanooga, and it is supposed he died in
Libby prison, although nothing was heard
of him after being captured.
During his boyhood Frank L. Ryan ob-
tained a very limited education, as his mother
needed his assistance in caring for the fam-
ily. He, too, was one of the "boys in blue"
during the Rebellion, enlisting September
6, 1 86 1, at the age of twenty-one years, in
Company K, Thirty-fourth Ohio Volunteer
Infantry, for three years. He first went to
Camp Piatt on the Ohio river, and soon af-
terward crossed the river into Virginia,
where his regiment saw much service. He
participated in all of the engagements in
which the regiment took part, numbering
thirty-two in all, including the battles of
Witheville, Virginia, Cloud Mountain, Stras-
burg, and the two engagements at Cedar
Creek and Winchester. At the last men-
tioned place, July 24, 1864, he was captured
just before his term of service expired, and
lor five days he was held within the rebel
lines. One morning he saw his opportunity
to escape, of which he took advantage, creep-
ing away in a ditch full of briars and lying
all day in seclusion near the rebel camp.
That night he walked twenty-one miles, and
fell in with a negro who cared for him
eighteen days, all the time being within gun-
318
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
shot of rebel soldiers on North mountain.
He struck the Union lines at Martinsburg,
Virginia. In the meantime his regiment
had returned to Ohio to be mustered out,
and he followed in time to be mustered out
with them, being discharged at Columbus,
September 13, 1864.
Returning to his home in Darke county,
Mr. Ryan engaged in farming on rented
land for a time, but in 1870 purchased sixty-
two and a half acres in Greenville township,
which he has converted into one of the best
improved farms of that locality. He was
married, January 26, 1865, to Miss Mary
Potter, a daughter of Daniel and Catherine
(Cumerine) Potter, early settlers of Darke
county, their home being the farm on which
our subject now resides. By this union
were born four children, namely : Mary C,
the wife of Owen Curtner, of Hamilton,
Ohio; John D., a prominent salesman of
Dayton, whose wife died leaving two chil-
dren, Agnes and Frankie; Cora, at home
witli her parents; and Minnie, the wife of
William Appenceller, of Greenville. For
many years Mr. and Mrs. Ryan have been
active members of the Coleville Christian
church, and they are held in high regard by
all who know them on account of their ster-
ling worth. Politically he affiliates with
the Republican party, and socially is an hon-
ored member of Jobes Post, G. A. R., of
Greenville, and the Horse Thief Protective
Association, of Darke county.
Daniel Potter, the father of Mrs. Ryan,
was born January 26, 1809, and died Sep-
tember 20, 1862, while his wife was born
December 15, 181 7. and died April 7, 1861.
The)' came to Darke county in early life and
were married there. The}- took an active
part in church work, and were among the
oreanizers of the Christian church in this
county. In their family were the follow-
ing children : William, a resident of Reno
county, Kansas, enlisted as a private in 1861,
i:: Company G, Fortieth Ohio Volunteer
Infantry, and passed the grades of promo-
tion to a first lieutenancy. He participated
in many hard-fought battles, and was hon-
orably discharged in 1865. Mrs. Phoebe
Vail is a resident of Oklahoma. ■ John en-
listed in 1862 in Company K, Ninety-fourth
Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and was killed in
the battle of Resaca, Georgia, May 14, 1863.
Jonas died when small. Charlotte and Mrs.
Ryan complete the family.
HENRY M. COLE.
While the disposition to do honor to
those who have served well their race or
their nation is prevalent among all enlight-
ened people and is of great value everywhere
and under all forms of government, it is
particularly appropriate to and to be fostered
in this country, where no man is born to
public office or to public honor, or comes to
either by inheritance, but where all men
are equal before the law. where the race
for distinction is over the road of public
usefulness and is open to every one who
chooses to enter, however humble and ob-
scure he may be, and where the advantageous
circumstances of family or wealth count,
in the vast majority of cases, for but little or
nothing. One who is now occupying an im-
portant position in the system of government
in Darke county, having attained thereto as
the result of individual merit is Henry M.
Cole, who is now serving as common pleas
judge.
He was born upon a farm in this county
on the 17th of March, 1845, a son nf Samuel
Cole, who was born in Washington town-
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
319
ship, Darke county, on the old family home-
stead, in 1 82 1. He represented one of the
pioneer families of the locality. The Coles
originally lived in Amsterdam, Holland, but
in what year the family was founded in
America is not definitely known. Samuel
Cole, Sr., the grandfather of the Judge, was
a native of New Jersey and emigrated west-
ward to Darke county, Ohio, at a pioneer
period in its development. He was a man of
broad general information, was popular with
his neighbors and was generous and kind,
being always ready and willing to assist in
securing a location for a new comer, while
his generous hospitality was known far and
wide. He wedded Mary Elston, a native of
Orange county. New York, and upon their
farm in Washington township their son,
Samuel Cole, was reared, Having attained
man's estate he married Miss Nancy C. Cox,
who was born in 'Washington township in
[822, a daughter of Martin Cox, a native
of Pennsylvania.
Henry M. Cole was also reared upon a
farm, his time being largely occupied with
the duties of field and meadow through the
summer months. Throughout the remainder
of the year he pursued his education in the
district schools of the neighborhood, and
under the parental roof he remained until
twenty-one years of age, teaching, however,
in the district schools near his home during
the winter. Not content to follow the plow,
his preference being for professional life,
he read law under the direction of the law
firm of Knox & Sater, of Greenville, and
later attended the law school in Cincinnati,
Ohio, in which he was graduated in the class
of 1869. The same year he was admitted
to the bar and at once entered upon the prac-
tice of his profession. During the first eleven
years of his connection with the legal fra-
19 &
ternity he practiced in partnership with
Judge A. R. Calderwood, of Greenville, now
deceased. He rose steadily, step by step,
as he demonstrated his ability to success-
fully cope with the intricate problems of
jurisprudence and soon won a large and dis-
tinctively representative clientage.
In 1879 J u dge Cole married Miss Eliza-
beth Porter, of Greenville, a daughter of
John W. Porter, a native of Montgomery
county, Ohio, and they have always main-
tained their residence in this city, where
they have a large circle of friends. So-
cially the Judge is connected with Greenville
Lodge, No. 195, I. O. O. F. During the
war of the Rebellion he manifested his
loyalty to his country by enlisting in an
Ohio regiment, in which he served his c< mn-
try faithfully and well until the close of hos-
tilities, when he was honorably discharged.
He is now a member of Jobes Post, G. A. R.,
of Greenville. Politically he cast in his lot
with the Republican party and has labored
effectively in its interests. In 1897 he was
nominated on that ticket as the candidate for
judge of the common pleas court and was
elected by a handsome majority for a term of
five years, over J. C. Elliott, the Democratic
candidate, the district being composed of the
counties of Preble, Darke, Miami, Clark and
Champaign. He possesses good legal talent,
is a close student and is devoted to his pro-
fession. While practicing at the bar he ap-
plied himself diligently to the preparation
and trial of cases and to the handling of the
legal matters entrusted to his care. His
industry and integrity brought him the con-
fidence of the community and a large prac-
tice made his professional career a success.
Endowed with these qualifications, which are
combined with an agreeable address and
methodical and regular habit.-, promotion to
3:20
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
his present position of honor and confidence
became a matter of course. Judge Cole at-
tends to his judicial duties with careful at-
tention to detail and a total disregard of
self, seeming to be animated only by a de-
sire to discharge his duty with fairness and
impartiality. He is also well versed in gen-
eral literature and is a polished, conscientious
gentleman.
CHARLES BEERS, M. D.
Among the prominent and successful
physicians of Darke county, Ohio, is Dr.
Charles Beers, of Painter Creek! who has
spent his entire life in this county, his birth
occurring in Greenville, May 11. 1S72.
There he grew to manhood and acquired his
literary education in its public schools, which
he attended until eighteen years of age. He
then commenced the study of medicine, un-
der Dr. J. H. Spitter, of Greenville, with
whi im he remained eighteen months, and
then entered the Ohio Medical College at
Cincinnati, at which he was graduated with
the class of 1896. Immediately after his
graduation he opened an office at Painter
Creek, and has met with marked success in
the prosecution of his chosen profession, it
being said that he has as large a practice as
any physician in Darke county. He is
strictly self-made as to his attainments, as he
borrowed the money to pay for his tuition
at college, and is deserving of the highest
commendation for the success that he has
achieved. He was reared in the Methodist
faith and as a Democrat, but is liberal in his
political views.
On the 24th of November, 1898, Dr.
Beers Mas united in marriage with Miss
Alma, a daughter of Harvey H. and Henri-
etta V. Bireley, of Painter Creek.
AARON A. IRELAN.
It is now our privilege to enter a brief re-
view of the career of one of the venerable and
honored pioneer citizens of Darke county,
and the province of a compilation of this
nature is most perfectly realized in offering
a resume of such character. Aaron Abel
Irelan. who is a resident of Hollansburg,
Harrison township, is a native son of the
Buckeye state, having been born in Monroe
township, Preble county, on the 12th of
September, 1818, the son of Moses Irelan,
who removed from Cincinnati to Preble
county about 18 16. He was born in Pennsyl-
vania, September 15, 1790, and his death oc-
curred November 22, 1872. His father was
Aaron Irelan, of an old and long-lived
Pennsylvania family. Ail of his brothers
and sisters except one lived to advanced age,
his death being the result of an accident, as
he was killed by a horse, when about fifty
years of age. Grandfather Irelan removed
from New Jersey to Pennsylvania and thence
to Cincinnati, and he died in Coleraine town-
ship. His widow subsequently married a
man named Robinson, and she died of par-
alysis, at the age of eighty years.
Moses Irelan married Hester Abel, who
accompanied a family named Beten from
New Jersey to Ohio when a child of seven
years, in 1808. She was born in 1799 and
her marriage to Mr. Irelan was c< msum-
mated when she was sixteen years of age. Of
their ten children we make record as fol-
lows : Polly, wife of George Painter, died,
leaving five children; Aaron A. is the subject
of this sketch; Dorcas was three times mar-
ried and she died at the age of seventy-two,
leaving three children ; Ephraim died young ;
Hettie and Jane have both passed away, each
leaving children; and the three others of
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
821
the family died in infancy. The mother died
in 1837, and the father was again married,
one child being the issue of this union. He
died November 22, 1872, as before noted.
Aaron A. Irelan was reared in the forests
of the pioneer farm and he early became in-
ured to hard work, aiding in the reclaiming
and cultivation of the old homestead. He re-
mained with his parents until he had reached
the age of twenty-five years, after which he
engaged in huxtering for four years, begin-
ning his independent career without cash or
credit. In 1845 ne engaged in the general
merchandise trade in Hollansburg, continu-
ing this enterprise until 1852, when he de-
termined to resume the pursuits to which he
had been reared, and since then he has been
very successful in his farming operations,
having owned at one time six hundred and
seventy-five acres, of which he still retains
two hundred and forty acres of the most de-
sirable and best cultivated land in the coun-
ty. Though he has operated so extensively
in the agricultural line he has continued to
hold his mercantile interests until quite re-
cently, when he disposed of the same.
On the 1 8th of October, 1841, Mr.
Irelan was united in marriage to Miss Phcebe
Tillson, and they have had nine children,
namely : The first born was a son, who died
in in 
